Emergency food plants and poisonous plants of the islands of the Pacific

TM 10-420

WAR DEPARTMENT

/.

TECHNICAL MANUAL

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS
AND POISONOUS PLANTS

OF THE

ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC

April 15, 1943

TM 10-420

TECHNICAL MANUAL

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND
POISONOUS PLANTS

OF THE

SLANDS OF THE PACIFIC

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UNITED STATES

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 1943

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office

Washington, D. C.

WAR DEPARTMENT
Washington, April 15, 1943.

TM 10-420, Emergency Pood Plants of the Islands of the
Pacific, was written by Dr. E. D. Merrill, Administrator of
Botanical Collections and Director of the Arnold Arboretum,
Harvard University, and is published for the information and
guidance of all concerned.

[A. G. 062.12 (2-22-43).]

By order of the Secretary of War:

G. C. MARSHALL,

Chief of Staff.

Official :

J. A. ULIO,

Major General,

The Adjutant General.

Distribution :
IC ^24).
(For explanation of symbols see FM 21-6.)

n

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Paragraphs Page

Section I. Purpose and scope 1-2 1

II. Reassurance and warning 3-5 2

ni. Assistance and advice of natives 6-8 3

IV. Miscellaneous information 9-10 4

V. Edible ferns 11-12 5

VI. Edible herbs 13-14 10

VII. Edible palms 15-16 17

Vni. Edible grasses 17-18 26

IX. Edible tubers 19 30

X. Plants eaten as greens 20 43

XI. Edible fruits 21-22 75

XII. Edible seeds 23 110

XIII. Poisonous plants 24 125

XIV. Plants used to stupefy fish 25-26 132

LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure Title Paragraph Page

1. Tree fern (Cyathea) 12 6

2. Swamp fern (Ceratopteris thalictroides) 12 7

3. Paco (Athyrium esculentum) 12 8

4. Stenochlaena palustris, Acrostichum aurcum__ 12 9

5. Taro (Colocasia esculenta) 14 12

6. Schizmatoglottis calyptrata 14 13

7. Elephant ear (Alocasia macrorrhiza) 14 14

8. Cyrtosperma chamissonis 14 15

9. Amorphophallus campanulatus 14 16

10. Sago palm (Metroxylon) 16 19

11. Salacca edulis 16 20

12. Rattan palm (Calamus) 16 21

13. Buri palm (Corypha), Fishtail palm (Caryota),

Sugar palm (Arenga) 16 23

14. Coconut (Cocos nucifera) 16 24

15. Nipa palm (Nipa fruticans) 16 25

16. Job's tears (Coix lachryma-jobi) 1 18 27

17. Setaria palmifolia 18- 28

18. Bamboo shoots (several types) 18 29

19. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) 19 31

20. Cassava, manioc, or tapioca (Manihot

esculenta) 19 32

21. Greater yam (Dioscorea alata) 19 33

22. Bulb yam (Dioscorea bulbifera) ^-_ 19 34

23. Goa yam (Dioscorea esculenta) 19 35

24. Buck yam (Dioscorea pentaphylla) 19 36

25. Wild yam (Dioscorea hispida) 19 37

26. Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) 19 38

27. Yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus) 19 40

28. Polynesian arrowroot (Tacca leontopetaloides) _ 19 41

29. Water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) 19 42

30. Luffa cylindrica, Luffa acutangula 20 43

31. Balsam vine (Momordica charantia) 20 44

32. Commelinaceae 20 46

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure Title Paragraph Page

33. Forrestia marginata 20 47

34. Amaranthus (three species) 20 48

35. Celosia argentea 20 49

36. Alternanthera sessihs , 20 50

37. Ceylon spinach (Basella rubra) 20 51

38. Pilea glaberrima 20 52

39. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) 20 53

40. Seaside purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum) 20 54

41. Boerhaavia diffusa 20 55

42. Solanum nigrum 20 56

43. Ipomoea aquatica 20 57

44. Ottelia alismoides .' 20 58

45. Monochoria vaginalis, Monochoria hastata 20 59

46. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) 20 60

47. Emilia sonchifolia 20 61

48. ErechtiteS; 20 62

49. Spilanthes acmella 20 63

50. Pluchea indica__ 20 64

51. Acalypha indica 20 65

52. Acalypha wilkesiana 20 66

53. Horseradish tree (Moringa oleifera) 20 67

54. Coral tree (Erythrina variegata) 20 68

55. Sesbania grandiflora 20 69

56. Thespesia populnea 20 70

57. Pemphis acidula 20 72

58. Tournefortia argentea 20 73

59. Morinda citrifolia , 20- 74

60. Cantala (Agave cantala) 20 75

61. Banana (Musa sapientum; Musa troglody-

tarum) 22 77

62. Papaw or Papaya (Carica papaya) 22 78

63. Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) 22 79

64. Jak fruit (Artocarpus heterophylla) 22 81

65. Champedak (Artocarpus champeden) 22 82

66. Artocarpus rotunda 22 83

67. Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum); Pulusan

(Nephelium mutabile) 22 84

68. Lansone (Lansium domesticum) 22 85

69. Guava (Psidium guajava) 22 86

70. Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) 22 87

71. Sweet sop (Annona squamosa) 22 88

72. Sour sop (Annona muricata) 22 89

73. Custard apple (Annona reticulata) 22 90

74. Mango (Mangifera indica) 22 91

75. Sapodilla (Achras zapota) 22 92

76. Jambolan (Syzygium cumini) 22 93

77. Syzygium aqueum 22 94

78. Malay apple (Syzygium malaccense) 22 96

79. Rose apple (Syzygium jambos) 22. 97

80. Santol (Sandoricum koetjape) 22 98

81. Polynesian plum (Spondias dulcis) 22 99

82. Bilimbi (Averrhoa bilimbi) and Carambola

(Averrhoa carambola) 22 100

83. Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) 22 101

84. Cynometra cauliflora 22 102

IV

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure Title Paragraph Page

85. Pandan or Screw pine (Pandanus tectorius)__ 22 103

86. Gnetum gnemon 22 105

87. Bignai (Antidesma bunius) 22 106

88. Ximenia americana 22 107

89. Wild tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) 22 108

90. Ground cherry (Physalis (3 species)) 22 109

91. Pangi (Pangium edule) 23 110

92. Polynesian chestnut (Inocarpus fagiferus) — 23 112

93. Sterculia foetida 23 113

94. Indian almond (Terminalia catappa) 23 114

95. Candle nut (Aleurites moluccana) 23 115

96. Cycas circinalis 23 116

97. Kanari and pili (Canarium commune) 23 117

98. Lotus (Nelumbium nelumbo); water lily

(Nymphaea) 23 119

99. Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) 23 120

100. Asparagus bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolo-

bus) 23 121

101. Hyacinth bean (Dolichos lablab) 23 122

102. Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) 23 123

103. Peanut (^Arachis h3rpogaea) 23 124

104. Physic nut (Jatropha curcas) 24 126

105. Castor oil plant (Rocinus communis).^ 24 127

106. Tree nettle (Laportea) 24 128

107. Tree nettle (Laportea) 24 129

108. Cowhage (Mucuna pruriens) ; (Mucuna bipli-

cata), (Mucuna cyanosperma) 24 130

109. Semecarpus 24 131

110. Croton oil plant (Croton tiglium) 26 134

111. Derris elliptica 26 135

112. Tephrosia purpurea 26 136

113. Barringtonia asiatica 26 137

TM 10-420

TECHNICAL MANUAL

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS
OF THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC

Section I

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

Paragraph

Purpose 1

Scope 2

■ 1. Purpose. — The purpose of this manual is to aid the in-
dividual who becomes separated from his unit by illustrating
and describing the edible and poisonous plants so that this
individual can live off the land. The natives of the Malayan
and Polynesian regions use parts of a great many wild plants
as food, sometimes to supplement and diversify their daily
diet, and sometimes as famine foods in time of scarcity. The
parts used include young shoots and leaves of various herbs,
shrubs, and trees, various fruits, certain seeds, some flowers
and flower buds, and the tubers or starchy bulblike roots of
various cultivated and wild plants. Some of these plant
parts have a high food value and some are rich in vitamins.

■ 2. Scope. — a. Region covered. — This manual covers all of'
Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia, as well as the entire
Malay Archipelago including the Malay Peninsula and the
Philippines. For all practical purposes it also covers Indo-
china, Thailand (Siam) , Burma, and eastern India.

b. Plants. — The more common plants that occur in reason-
able abundance that may be used as food in times of emer-
gency are included. The following have been excluded:

(1) Rare species.

(2) Plants that are familiar to residents of the temperate
regions including maize or Indian corn, sorghum, rice, pine-
apple, cabbage, carrot, beet, garden bean, squash, cucumber,
egg plant, sweet pepper, and other universally cultivated food
plants.

(3) Familiar fruit trees such as the orange, lime, pomelo
(one of the parents of the grapefruit) , lemon, etc.

3^ QUARTERMASTER CORPS

Section IT

REASSURANCE AND WARNING

Paragraph

Jungle snakes 3

Poisonous plants 4

Jungle pests 5

B 3. Jungle Snakes. — There is altogether too much fear of
the Tropics, particularly on the part of those individuals
without previous tropical experience. Thus the widespread
fear of "the snake infested jungle" is an entirely imaginary
picture. Poisonous snakes are absent from Polynesia. In
Malaysia, they are very rare and are seldom seen. The
chances of being bitten by a poisonous snake in any part
of the Malayan region are very much smaller than in any
part of the United States where rattle snakes and water
moccasins occur.

■ 4. Poisonous Plants. — a. General. — ^There is no reason to
fear the small number of poisonous plants in any part
of Polynesia or Malaysia. The general rule is to avoid the
following:

(1) Those with milky sap (except the numerous species of

wild flg) .

(2) All plants the taste of which is disagreeable.

b. Contact poisons. — In the Malayan and Polynesian re-
gion there are few contact poisons corresponding to our
poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak. However, they all
belong to the same natural family of plants (Anacardiaceae) .
The poisonous principle is the same and the treatment is the
same as that indicated for persons coming in contact with
poison ivy. In the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and
Borneo where most of them occur, they are collectively
known as rengas and are all small to large trees. A few of
the wild or semiwild species of mango, but not the common
mango, also have poisonous sap. These are sometimes cul-
tivated or sometimes found in the forests. In the Malay
Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo, rarely outside of this
region, they are known as kemang, lanjut, binjai, bachang,
kwini and warii. Normally an individual might be poisoned

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EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 4-6

by these species when engaged in actually felling the trees.
Their poisonous properties are thoroughly well known to the
natives. Curiously, the fruits of all of these wild and semi-
wild types of mango can be safely eaten, even when the
sap is poisonous.

c. Stinging plants. — There are some types of plants, never
very common, that have stinging hairs such as the tree net-
tles (Laportea) (par. 24d) and the cowhage (Mucuna)
(par. 24e). These stinging hairs of the latter are merely
mechanical irritants and are not poisonous.

■ 5. Jungle Pests. — Keep constantly in mind the fact that
in all of Malaysia and Polynesia there is almost no danger
from poisonous snakes, noxious insects, spiders, and poison-
ous plants. The forests and jungles of the entire region
are a distinctly safe place in which to operate under any-
thing even approaching normal conditions. The malaria
mosquito and the land leech are the pests to avoid whenever
possible. The land leech is found only in the high forests
during the rainy season, or in the areas where the rainfall
is heavy in all months of the year.

Section HI

ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE OF NATIVES

Paragraph

Native use of plants 6

Advice of natives 7

Local names 8

■ 6. Native Use of Plaj^ts. — In all parts of the region the
natives in general know both the wild and the cultivated
plants which may be used as food. However, in certain
sections, for example, Java, their use as food may be known
but quite unknown to the natives of other islands in Malaya,
Micronesia, and Polynesia. The breadfruit, which is a basic
food in many parts of Polynesia, is little used as food in most
parts of Malaya, where the species also occurs, simply because
better foods are usually available there. A great many plants
used by the natives of Java as food are quite unknown as food
plants elsewhere.

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7-9 QUARTERMASTER CORPS

S 7. Advice of Natives. — Whenever possible, try to get in
touch with natives even though one may be able to talk with
them only by means of signs. They can be most helpful in
times when regular rations are not available. They usually
know how these emergency food plants should be prepared,
and those which may be poisonous if eaten raw. In some
of the actually poisonous plants the poisonous principle may
be eliminated by proper cooking, or by other treatments, and
the material then eaten with entire safety.

H 8. Local Names. — ^In selecting recorded native plant names,
no attempt has been made to indicate in what islands and
by what peoples the names are used. In the area covered,
there are probably in excess of 450 or 500 different languages
or dialects involved. For all plants of this vast region there
are probably in excess of 50,000 native plant names actually
recorded; many locally used plant names are still unlisted.
Some native plant names are very widely used, while others
are local. Many of the plants considered have no common
names in English.

Section IV

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Paragraph

Plants near the seashore 9

Guide for eating fruits 10

■ 9. Plants Near the Seashore. — The number and variety of
plants on the atolls and low islands of Polynesia and Micro-
nesia are usually small, whether the islands be small or large,
inhabited or uninhabited. Naturally, a greater variety of
food plants, many of them cultivated, are found on the
inhabited islands. On most islands will be found on or near
the seashore such plants as the pandan or screw pine (par.
22y) , common purslane (par. 20;) , seaside purslane (par.
20/c) , Boerhaavia (par. 20Z) , Polynesian arrowroot (par, IQ;) ,
and such shrubs and trees as Ximenia (par. 22a&), Morinda
(par. 20ad) , Tournefortia (par. 20ac), Pemphis (par. 20aE>),
Thespesia (par. 20aa) , and Erythrina (par. 202/) , as well as
various weedy herbs, such as Alternanthera (par. 206r),

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 9-11

Emilia (par. 20r), Amaranthus (par. 20e), Commelinaceae
(par. 20c), and perhaps some other introduced weeds con-
siderjed in this manual. Even on uninhabited islands is
sometimes found the coconut palm (par. 16e) , and the bread-
fruit (par. 22c), where casual visitors have planted them.
Generally, the vegetation on these low islands is very simple,
with very few species as compared with that of the high
islands, such as Fiji, Samoa, and others, and with the
individual islands of the Malayan region.

B 10. Guide for Eating Fruits. — ^Keep in mind that those
cultivated trees and shrubs growing in the settled areas, in
and near towns, that bear attractive fleshy fruits, for the
most part are actually planted for their fruits, and that
generally their fruits may be eaten with perfect safety.
In the wild, where monkeys occur, a safeguard to follow is to
observe what the monkeys actually eat in the form of wild
fruits. The feeding habits of birds is not such a safe guide.
One should keep in mind constantly that fruit maturity in
the tropics is normally seasonal just as it is in temperate
regions, and only occasionally, as with the coconut palm, are
fruits produced throughout the year.

Section V

EDIBLE FERNS

• Paragraph

Perns in general H

Specific ferns 12

■ 11. Ferns in General. — The number of different kinds of
ferns in the Malayan-Polynesian region is very great, proba-
bly exceeding 1,500 different species. Some are small in-
significant, while others are relatively very large in size,
including the characteristic tree ferns (par. 12). Parts of
certain species of ferns are regularly used as food by the
natives and these parts are often offered for sale in native
markets. While the food value of the edible parts of ferns
is probably relatively low, yet these parts will help sustain
life when other foods are not available. In general the parts
most commonly used are the young unfolding leaves, com-
monly spoken of as "fiddle heads;" these may be eaten either

11

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

raw or cooked. Some of these "fiddle heads'* are too tough,
and others are bitter or otherwise bad tasting. But one point
may be kept in mind that, so far as known, none of the >f erns
is actually poisonous when eaten. In some species the young

ClUM*'^^

Figure 1. — ^Tree ferns {Cyathea)

tender leaves are cooked and eaten. In general only a few
of the better known or useful ferns have definite plant names,
but a common collective name for all ferns in the Malay
Archipelago is pako or paku.

6

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

12

■ 12. Specific Ferns. — a. Tree ferns (Cyathea). — Being
chiefly forest ferns, tree ferns may sometimes be found in
deserted clearings especially in more or less constantly wet

Figure 2. — Swamp fern {Ceratopteris thalictroides) .

regions. There are many different kinds and they are often
abundant and are sometimes up to 25 feet high or even
more. The young leaves as they commence to uncurl, the
so-called "fiddle heads," are tender and may be eaten raw

12

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

or cooked. The terminal tender bud or "cabbage" may also
be eaten. Local names: Eki, dkii, biimg, 6li-6li, paoga, pdku-
itam, pdkis-ddji, giro.

b. Swamp fern (Ceratopteris thalictroides) . — ^This fern,
often occurring in great abundance, is found in very wet soil,
old rice paddies, and swampy places, more or less submerged.
It never occurs in salt or brackish swamps. The whole plant
which is 1 to IMj feet high may be cooked and eaten as
greens, or may be eaten uncooked. It is an excellent food.
Local names: Pdkis-rawa, sdjor-kodok.

FiGTmE 3. — ^Paco {Athyrium, esculentum)

8

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

12

c. Paco (Athyrium esculentum) . — ^This fern often occurs
in great abundance along swift-running streams, margins
of rivers, and in some fresh-water swamps. It is usually
about 2 feet high. The young developing leaf stalks, or

OlUMi '■ft

Figure 4. — A, Stenochlaena palustris; B, Acrostichum aureum.

"fiddle heads," are an excellent food and may be eaten in
quantity either raw or cooked. Local names: Pdko, paku,
Pdku-sdjor, pdku-tdndjung, laminding, uta-hdu, uta-pdso,
uia-iodu uta-wdsu, pdkis-ioilis.

9

12-13 QUARTERMASTER CORPS

d. Stenochlaena palustris and Acrostichum aureum. — The
tender young leaves of both these ferns may be cooked and
eaten. The Stenochlaena (A) (fig. 4) is a climbing fern,
occurring often in abundance near the inner margins of
mangrove swamps, within the influence of salt or brackish
water; other species occur in the inland forests. The
Acrostichum (B) is a very coarse tufted fern, varying from
2 to 6 feet high, its mature leaves being very leathery. It
grows only in brackish swamps and hence always near the
seashore where it is commonly abundant. Local names.
(A, Stenochlaena) , Diliman, giliman, lamidin, lemiding, ag-
ndya, hagndya, dkar-pdkis, melat, miding, pdku-ramiding,
pdku-li7nbeh, pdku-merah, pdku-udang, pdkis-vordng, we-
wesu, bempesu. (B, Acrostichum). Ldgolo, Idngayo, hap-
pasen, sdato, lau-taputd, pdku-laut, paku-tiai, peye, piai,
kerakds, kalakiik.

Section VI

EDIBLE HERBS

Paragraph

Araceae in general 13

Specific Araceae 14

■ 13. Araceae in General. — a. These plants belonging in the
calla lily family are found in the forests and in the open
country, varying in size from small to very large herbs.
None of the climbing ones should be used for food. Their
vegetative parts are in general characterized by being sup-
plied with myriads of minute needlelike stinging crystals of
calcium oxalate that are intensely irritating when brought
in contact with mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and
throat and, in some cases, even in contact with tender skin;
these microscopic crystals (and they occur in our common
Indian turnip or Jack-in-the-pulpit) cause the so-called
acrid "taste" of these plants, but in spite of the very in-
tense irritation they may cause, the plants are normally not
actually poisonous. In spite of the presence of these sting-
ing crystals a considerable number of these plants are reg-
ularly eaten and several are widely cultivated for food, such
as the taro (and the yautia in tropical America), and to a

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EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 13-14

less degree the Cyrtosperma and Alocasia. In these culti-
vated forms, the underground part is usually greatly en-
larged, forming a tuber very rich in starch; thus to a very
considerable degree these tubers take the place of the com-
mon potato in the Tropics where a starchy food is needed
to help maintain a balanced diet. The taro tuber in par-
ticular is a very excellent well-flavored vegetable. The taro
leaves may be cooked and eaten, although the fresh leaves
are abundantly supplied with the minute stinging crystals,
which in the uncooked leaves are very irritating.

b. In general, when considering any of the numerous
species of this family as food (other than the tubers of the
taro), one should keep constantly in rnind the usual pres-
ence of these microscopic stinging crystals of oxalate of lime
and avoid putting any part of the raw plant into the mouth.
The application of heat breaks down these stinging crystals
so by thoroughly cooking the plant parts that are abun-
dantly supplied with these very irritating needlelike crystals
they may be safely eaten. However, in most cases, the first
"taste" of the cooked aroid should be on the basis of a very
small quantity, and if irritation results the material should
be cooked for a longer period of time.

H 14. Specific Araceae. — a. Taro iColocasia esculenta) . —
This is one of the most commonly cultivated food plants in
Polynesia, and also in the Malayan region, usually grown in
wet lands. The many varieties are usually 1 1/2 feet high. The
tubers are rich in starch and may be eaten in quantity, either
boiled or roasted. They are an excellent substitute for the
potato. The young leaves are commonly eaten as greens,
but as they contain very many minute stinging crystals they
must be thoroughly boiled before eating, as the application
of heat destroys these irritating crystals. Local names: Tdo,
tdlo, taro, tale, tdlas, tales, tdleh, tdlos, tdleus, kdlo, sune,
gdbi, kelddi, kulddi, etu, lumbu, sukat, ambdrgo, sauhat, gete,
bete, kudjang. Idle, Idee, loeh, mdlau, bolang, gelo, lomak, die,
kole, kore, korei, wongkai, alddi, tdlok, pdtjo, suli, ronan,
gwdi, ketu, etu, hdkar, wdkal, inan, indno, inane, gehut, kdlen,
mom, warimu, hekere, buge, mengkodo, kemb, kom, komo,
dildgo.

516614°— 43 2 H

14

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

•UM t«2

Figure 5. — ^Taro (Colocasia esculenta).

b. Schizmatoglottis calyptrata. — ^This low smooth herb
grows as high as 2 or 3 feet, and its flowers are usually yel-
lowish-green, or the upper part is white. It occurs in moist
shady places, especially in rocky soils, in forests, sometimes
in thickets, and often near streams. All parts of the plant
may be cooked and eaten. Local names: Njampon, wewehan,
solempat, salimpar, sdjor-bdbi, kesesi, tunak, apau, gogu-awa,
bdbu-banga, apalayi.

12

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

14

c. Elephant ear (Alocasia macrorrhiza) . — ^A very large
plant growing in the forests and in open places, the elephant
ear sometimes lacks a well-defined trunk, sometimes with a

Figure 6. — Schizviatoglottis calyptrata.

fairly tall trunk, and is often common and sometimes cul-
tivated. It varies in height from 3 feet to as much as 12 feet.
The juice is very acrid, due to the presence of thousands of

13

14

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

tiny needlelike crystals of oxalate of lime. In contact with
the nose and mouth they cause the most intense pain. In
times of emergency the softer parts of the trunk, which
contains considerable starch, may be cooked and eaten.
Some varieties are much more irritating than others.

Figure 7. — Elephant ear {Alocasia macrorrhisa) .

Warning: Do not eat unless first cooked very thoroughly
with two or three changes of water. Whenever possible, seek
the advice of informed natives who know how to prepare the
plant parts as food. Local names: Tadmu, fdga, lace,
sapukin, via-mila, via-gdga, drdmu, piga, ta'dmu, dpe, kdpe,
papdo-apdka, papdo-atulong , dha, hadiang, biga, abdba, bira,
bio, sente, kidwa, kei, lawira.

14

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

14

OliAOM '41

V FiGtTRE 8. — Cyrtosperma chamissonis.

d. (Cyrtosperma chamissonis) . — This is a very large plant
growing only in fresh-water swamps or swampy places more
or less in the open. The leaf stalks are more or less covered
with short spines. Sometimes it is cultivated. The large
underground part is rich in starch, but is to be eaten only
when thoroughly cooked, either boiled or roasted. Local
names: Gdliang, pdlau, palduan, hdba, bur a, puraka, burdka,
mdota, puld'a, dpe, dpe-veo, via-kdna, opeves, Idck.

15

1-1

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

e. A7norphophallus campanulatus. — ^This plant, often com-
mon, has large flowers ((A, fig. 9) a foot or more in di-
ameter appearing before the leaves (B). The flowers are
purplish and mottled and have the odor of decaying meat.

ftjbl-^n ■L'-Zryf ■■■■■• L'J- V-°r^^^*cV'

Figure 9. — Amorphophallus campanulatus.
It is found in open places, near thickets, etc., and is some-
times cultivated. The characteristic leafy stem (B) is
usually about 3 or 4 feet high. The tender, young, rather
rough and grayish-mottled leaf stems may he eaten, hut only
after cooking. The large tuber is rich in starch, but it con-
tains innumerable minute stinging needlelike crystals which

16

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 14-15

are intensely irritating to mucous membranes. Warning:
The large tuber should never he eaten except after prolonged
cooking. Long cooking breaks down the stinging crystals. If
possible, consult informed natives before using this as food.
Local names: Pungapung, teve, daiga, ddga, mdlree, suweg,
kembang-hdngah, kembang-bdnke, dtjung, ileus, bddur, bd-
dul, iles-iles, ileus, wdlur, dtjung, tjumpleng.

Section VIE

EDIBLE PALMS

Paragraph

Palms in general 15

Specific palms 16

■ 15. Palms in General. — a. There are a great many differ-
ent palms in Malaysia and in Polynesia. They vary greatly
in size and in habit. Some are very tall climbers, such as
the rattan palms, others low and almost shrubby, and still
others are gigantic in size. Some species grow along the
seashore within the influence of the salt water, such as the
nipa palm, some in open country, others in the secondary
forests and thickets, and still others in the high forest.

b. Representatives of several genera (Corypha, Arenga,
Caryota, Metroxylon) store up great quantities of starch in
their trunks (par. 16). This starch is entirely used up by
the plant when it produces flowers and fruits, after which
the plant dies. This starch is a valuable food, that from
Metroxylon (par. 16a) being the commercial sago. The
starch from all of these palms is used for food. The palms
are felled, split, the softer inner parts of the trunk crushed,
and the starch washed out into troughs to settle. The
water is then drawn off and the wet mass which dries is
almost pure starch. The usual way of utilizing this starch
for food is to make it into cakes which are then baked or
roasted. The trunks of Caryota, Metroxylon, and Arenga
are not large and can be manipulated rather easily; that of
Corypha is gigantic, up to 3 feet in diameter, and the outside
is very hard. In attempting to extract starch from any of
these it is always best to enlist the services of natives. In
any case select the trunks of palms that have not flowered,
or, better, those that are just commencing to produce powers.

17

15 QUARTERMASTER CORPS

c. In times of real emergency portions of the starch-bearing
softer inner parts of these palm trunks may be cut into pieces
which are then roasted or even boiled, after which the starch
can be "chewed out" of the fibrous mass that forms the inner
parts of the trunk. Its food value is high.

d. In general the terminal bud or "cabbage" of most palms
Is edible and may be eaten raw, boiled, or roasted. This
palm "cabbage," except in those cases where it may be too
bitter, is an excellent vegetable. This hud or "cabbage" is
the actual growing tip of the trunk and is found deep in the
terminal crown of leaf stalk bases.

e. In the climbing rattan palms (par. 16c), which are
particularly abundant in the high forests and of which there
are many different species, the terminal bud or "cabbage" is
edible; in many species the lower foot or so of the small
trunk contains considerable amounts of starch. In cases
of emergency these lower parts may be cut off, roasted over
a fire, and the starch then "chewed out." The abundant
small fruits of some of the species may be eaten, but the pulp
is acid and scanty.

/. Very excellent, clear, tasteless or nearly tasteless drink-
ing water may be obtained from the very long stems of the
rattan palms. Cut the stems into about 6- to 8-foot lengths
and hold these upright; the water will flow in a small stream
from the lower end. In a short time the flow will stop and
when this happens cut about a foot off the top end, and the
flow will commence again. Repeat until all of the water is
obtained. The rattan palms are all high climbers, mostly
very spiny on the leaf stalks and leaves and with long slender
whiplike spiny appendages, the spines forming characteristic
sharp claws. The very long slender stems are smooth and of
the same diameter throughout. The stems vary from 10 or 15
feet to several hundred feet in length.

g. Except for the coconut palm and a very few others, the
fruits of most of the Old World palm species are not edible.
In fact, those of Arenga and Caryota are very dangerous as
they are charged with myriads of minute needle-shaped
stinging crystals that cause intense pain when in contact
with nose or mouth or even the tender skin. Warning: In
testing palm fruits as to edibility, try only a very small quan-

18

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 15-16

tity first. If immediate intense pain results, this means the
presence of microscopic stinging crystals. Among the palms
it is chiefly in the fruits of Caryota and Arenga that these
intensely irritating stinging crystals occur, and one should
never attempt to eat the fruits of these particular palms
(par. 16d).

Ohach ''^z.

Figure 10. — Sago palm (Metroxylon) .
■ 16. Specific Palms. — a. Sago palm (Metroxylon). — This
palm is found chiefly in fresh-water swamps and is one of
the very few palms growing in such places. The tree is

19

16

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

usually 25 to 30 feet high and smooth and very spiny forms
occur. The trunk contains great quantities of starch which
is the commercial sago and which is a basic food for the
natives in many parts of Malaya. (A) (fig. 10) is a full-
grown palm; (B) , a young palm; (C), a palm past maturity
in fruit, the starch in the trunk all used up by plant;
(D) flower and fruit bearing parts and a mature fruit;
(E) , lower part of a leaf of the spiny form. For brief dis-

FiGURE 11. — Salacca edulis.
20

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

It)

cussion of method of extraction of the starch, see paragraph
15. The terminal buds or "cabbage" may be cooked and
eaten as a vegetable. Local names : Rumbia, rambia, pohon,
sdgu, lumbal, lumbiag, bulung, kersula, resula, humbia, bdi,
bdir, lipia, ripia, Idpia, ndwia, tesdrak, beri, no, inomo, huda,
ambolong, bdgsang.

Figure 12. — Rattan palm (Calamus).

21

IQ QUARTERMASTER CORPS

&. Salacca edulis. — ^This is a tufted, spiny, almost stemless
palm which grows up to 15 feet high. It bears round, brown
fruits which are covered with scales. The yellowish white,
sour-sweet, edible pulp surrounding two or three rather large
hard seeds may be eaten raw. The immature fruits may also
be cooked and eaten. Normally this palm is not founi in
forests but usually is planted. Local names: Sdlak, huah-
sdlak, hdkam, tiisum, seekumai.

c. Rattan palm (Calamus). — There are many different
kinds of rattan palm and they are found chiefly in the high
forest. They are all climbing palms. The leaf stalks and
growing parts are very spiny; the stems are smooth and vary
in size from the thickness of a pencil to 2 inches in diameter.
They are often several hundred feet long. The leaf tips are
greatly extended and supplied with numerous very sharp,
hard, clawlike teeth. The small growing point or "cabbage"
of most species is edible. In many species the lower foot or
two of the trunk ((A) , fig. 12) is slightly thickened and con-
tains some starch; these lower parts may be roasted and
the cooked starch "chewed out." The stems yield excellent
drinking water (see par. 15).

d. Buri palm; fishtail palm; sugar palm. — All of these
palms, like the sago palm, store up great quantities of starch
in the softer inner parts of their trunks which may be used as
food. (See par. 15.) The tender buds or "cabbage" of all
may be cooked and eaten. All of these occur in open lands
and in secondary forests; the fishtail palm occurs also in the
high forest. The buri palm is recognized by its enormous
size, often 50 feet high, its great fan-shaped leaves, and their
very stout spiny leaf stalks; the fishtail palm by the shape of
its leaves; and the sugar palm by its very long feather-shaped
ascending leaves, the lower parts of the leaf stalks where
they join the stem with many very long black stiff hairs.
Local names: iCorypha) : Buri, gdwang, gehang, silar, silal,
tildda, tdli, siger. (Caryota) : Anibong, batikan, pugdhan,
takipan, genduru, andudu, ramisi, dni, pdlun, bdru,
(Arenga) : Kaong, kabo-negro, hidiok, idiok, irrok, hdnu,
dren, dnau, semdki, daluku.

22

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

16

9tLktn m

Figure 13. — A, Buri palm {Corypha, a young palm at the left); B,
Fishtail palm {Caryota); C, Sugar palm {Arenga) .

e. Coconut (Cocos nucifera) . — This plant is one of the
most commonly cultivated palms throughout Polynesia and
Malaya. The large terminal bud or "cabbage" is one of the
very finest vegetables, and may be eaten in quantity, either
raw or cooked. The nut yields the very best drinking water
that is available anywhere, while the meat may be eaten in

23

16

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

piLLtlt U\

Figure 14. — Coconut {Cocos nucifera) .

any stage of development. Local names: Nu, ni, niu, nius,
nihau, niweur, niel, igo, 7iizok, niog, hardmbir, ardmhir, 6J}i,
kaldpa, njejong, njur, njir, Idngai, ongat, tdpo, niuka, bdnga,
bongo, kaluku, utiri, turiri, niyog, noe merau, efo, epoh, bdku,
krdmbil, krdmbir, tuivaloh, keldmbir, vdte.

f. Nipa palm (Nipa fruticans) . — This palm occurs only
along tidal streams and back of the mangrove swamps where
it is always within the influence of salt or brackish water.

24

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

16

Figure 15. — Nipa palm {Nipa fruticans) .

In favorable habitats it sometimes covers hundreds of acres.
It is a stemless palm, the part corresponding to the trunk
creeping in the mud and sending up several long leaves. The
normal height is about 15 feet. The solitary, dark, brown
round heads of fruits are about 1 foot or more in diameter.
The large white seeds may be eaten when immature; in
young stages they somewhat resemble the meat of the coco-
nut. When fully mature the seed is very hard, and if eaten

25

16-17 QUARTERMASTER CORPS

at all in this stage should be finely grated or crushed. Local
names: Nipa, ipah, saripi, parenga, dimor, Idtaf, sanenem,
hira, wera, song, kopere, tdmu, hoho, hohoro, salipi.

Section VIII
EDIBLE GRASSES

Paragraph

Grasses in general . 17

Specific grasses 18

■ 17. Grasses in General. — a. To this family belong all of
our cultivated cereals, such as rice, wheat, barley, oats, rye,
millet, sorghum, maize or corn, etc. Rice, millet, sorghum,
maize, and several other cereals are extensively cultivated in
the Tropics, but one does not find rye, wheat, oats, and other
cereals so characteristic of the temperate regions. The bam-
boos are all grasses, and the young shoots of most of these
(and there are many kinds in Malaya) may be cooked and
eaten with safety (see par. 18c) . The cultivated sugarcane
is a grass. Its juice is rich in sugar, and thus has consid-
erable food value. A wild species of sugarcane, a coarse,
harsh-leafed grass 4 to 10 feet high, or even taller in rich
soil, is very common and widely distributed in open valley
lands. The flower -bearing parts are white, and make the
species very conspicuous. It sometimes occupies large areas
and scarcely needs a description. This is known as taldhib,
geldgah, gldgah, kdso, tebu-sdla, tatebau, tehiu, tigbau,
bogang, kldgah, tlengdt, kenu, sdraw, hepu, dalina, djodo,
and siuhu. The hearts of the young shoots are frequently
eaten raw or cooked, and are even sold in the markets of
Java. The very young flowering parts, while still inclosed in
the upper leaf -sheaths, may be cooked and eaten, while the
roots may be peeled and eaten and taste somewhat sweet like
the cultivated sugarcane.

b. Some of the wild grasses allied to millet, such as our
common barnyard grass, have fairly large seeds, and these
are produced in abundance; they may be gathered, the seeds
rubbed out of the chaff, and either boiled or roasted. While
the seeds of the wild grasses are much smaller than those of
our cultivated cereals, nevertheless they are perfectly safe to
eat, and are actually used by the natives in times of food
shortages. (See figs. 17 and 18.)

26

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

18

Figure 16.— Job's tears {Coix lachryma-jobi) .

B 18. Specific Grasses. — a. Job's tears \Coix lachryma-
johi). — This is coarse grass, usually 2 to 3 feet high, often
abundant in open places, never found in forests. The very
hard, white, shining "fruit" contains one to several fairly
large seeds which may be eaten raw, boiled, or roasted. There
is one form (dele, jelai, salea, lahja, hadjeli, iriule, sah, sari,
rore, lore), with very thin-walled brownish "fruits," fre-

516614^—43-

27

18

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

quently cultivated for its seeds. Local names: Adlai,
kudldsan, jelai, jelai-bdtu, andjdlai, sila, sdna-sdna, sang a-
sdnga, bilen, pu-pu, vianiu-niu, perdra, sdlea-utan, hadjere.

Figure 17. — Setaria palniifoUa.

bukehang, tataokok, tie. Idle, bdree, kalide, karisi, klumba,
gelem, sdlea, takokok.

b. Setaria palmifolia. — ^This is a coarse grass, 2 to 6 feet
high, with broad, prominently nerved leaves and very numer-

28

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

18

ous flowers. It is usually abundant in old clearings, partly
shaded ravines, old plantations, and along forest borders.
The hearts of the young shoots or stout plants ((A), fig. 17)
may be eaten raw or cooked, and these are often sold in the

.y'i

^/i

Figure 18. — Bamboo shoots (several types).

native markets of Java. The very numerous small seeds (the
species being allied to Italian millet) may be gathered and
boiled or roasted; these are used as a famine food in the
Philippines and elsewhere. Local names: Luluwan-kebo,

29

18-19 QUARTERMASTER CORPS

tjewehan, sahuen, yang-meydngan, wuluhan, lintabueng,
jang-ujdngan, mese-mae, Idkar, esa-esa, wdru-wdri, sowa-
sowdne, agusdis, asdhas, hagusdis, dumhug.

c. Types of bamboo shoots. — There are many different
kinds of bamboo in Malaysia and a few in Polynesia. They
occur often in great abundance in the open country and in
the jungles and forests. The young shoots appear from
near the bases of the older stalks and their growth is very
rapid. All of them may be cooked and eaten when young,
although in a few species the shoots are too bitter to be
palatable. The surrounding, often hairy sheaths, are re-
moved and the more or less tender inner parts are cut into
small pieces and boiled, or the whole shoot may be roasted.

Section IX

EDIBLE TUBERS

Paragraph
Edible tubers 19

1 19. Edible Tubers. — a. Sweet potato ilpomoea batatas). —
The sweet potato is widely cultivated throughout the Old
World Tropics as a staple article of food. It may be identi-
fied by its pink flowers or the shape of its leaf. In addition
to the edible tubers (these may be eaten raw or cooked),
the young shoots and leaves make an excellent pot herb or
substitute for spinach. Local names: Kamote, kumdra, ubi-
djdwa, batdta, petdtas, gddong, gddung, eba, piek, kepileu,
gowi, katila, ketela, kesela, kastena, kastela, pildoe, pelo, tela,
sdbhrang, hiwu-djdwa, watdta, bdge, atetela, wui-tutu, uwi,
Idme-djdwa, kandora, ufi-sina, sdne, nom-metai, bloini, uru,
urlau, mvi-kastela, mdngat, ddso, rdnso, mue, sabakruwa,
ningoi, kdv, gumi, gumini, bowon, ima, kdpu.

30

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

19

Figure 19. — Sweet potato {Ipomoea batatas).

h. Cassava, manioc, or tapioca (Manihot esculenta) .—A
plant widely cultivated in the Old World Tropics and is the
commercial source of tapioca. It is a shrubby plant 3 to 5
feet high. The large roots are rich in starch. Warning:
The two varieties, bitter cassava and sweet cassava cannot be
distinguished by any characteristic other than by taste.
Bitter cassava is poisonous when eaten raw. Cooking elimi-

31

19

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

Figure 20. — Cassava, manioc, or tapioca {Manihot esculenta) .

nates the poisonous principle (in this case hydrocyanic acid) ,
but with bitter cassava it is best to crush the root thoroughly
and wash the starchy mass with several changes of water.
Never eat bitter cassava raw, but only after it has been
thoroughly cooked. Local names: Kamote-kdhoy, kdsbi,
kasawe, mandioka, maniota, manoka, maniota-aipi, men-
dioka, ufi-ladu, yuka, ufiladu, ebae, kikohak, ketila, gddung-

32

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

19

Figure 21. — Greater yam {Dioscorea alata) .

kdoe, ubi-inggris, ubi-kddju, batdta-kdfu, bistungkel, huwi-
dangdeur, sdmveu, tjdpeu, kasdpen, kasibi, kdsbi, kaspini,
kdspe, ketela-pung, sikong, menjok, sdwi, mandardsi, pangdla,
tasibie.

c. Greater yam (Dioscorea alata) . — This is a twining vine,
common in cultivation, and sometimes growing wild. The
stems are ridged or with narrow wings. The yams vary

33

19

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

Figure 22. — Bulb yam {Dioscorea bulbifera) .

enormously in shape and size, sometimes rather small, some-
times weighing up to 30 pounds. The flesh varies from white
to purple. An excellent food boiled or roasted. Local names :
Ubi, uhi, ufi, ui-pdrai, uvi, uwi, huwi, heri, heli, lame, lutu,
gusu, dago.

d. Bulb yam {Dioscorea bulbifera). — ^This twining vine has
smooth stems. It grows in thickets, and is sometimes cul-
tivated. Usually fairly large, round, rather hard bulbs are

34

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

19

in the leaf axils. Warning: While the axillary bulbs and the
yams may be eaten when properly prepared (see g below) ,
they should never be eaten unprepared, as they are definitely
poisonous. Seek the advice of informed natives if possible as
to how the tubers should be treated. Local names: Huwi,
buwah, gembolo, kambubu, ahuhu, ohuhu, kapilpu, pulugan,
hoi^ VI, soi, abardka, vdti, nam.

Figure 23. — Goa yam {Dioscorea esculenta) .

e. Goa yam (Dioscorea esculenta) . — This spiny and twin-
ing vine is cultivated, also often found wild in thickets. The

35

19

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

yams vary in shape but are usually not very large. They are
distinctly well flavored, and may be eaten boiled or roasted.
Like those of the greater yam they need no special treatment,
as they are never poisonous. Local names: Gembolo,
gemheili, sudo, kaburan, huwi-ldndak, kdwai, tugi, tungo,
dago, hoi-tia, nika, sdhu, sidfu, sidpu, sidwu, sajdwu, kapugu,
isdhu.

jOIUMI '4i

Figure 24. — ^Buck yam {Dioscorea pentaphylla) .

36

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

19

/. Buck yam (Dioscorea pentaphylla) . — This is a climbing,
twining vine, the leaves usually with five parts, the stems
smooth or with short scattered spines. It is sometimes cul-
tivated, but more commonly found wild in thickets. Some-
times there are small bulbs in the leaf axils. The yams vary
in shape and are usually not very large. Tliey may be
eaten boiled or roasted. Local names: Ubi-pdsir, uhi-sunda.

Figure 25. — ^Wild yam {Dioscorea hispida) .

37

19

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

kdtak, huwi-putri, susuan, rdhet-sosean, pda, pilita, pirita,
patora, paaudra, utau, lima-Uma, sdpong.

g. Wild yam (Dioscorea hispida) . — ^This is a climbing,
rather woody, spiny vine; the leaves have three parts. It
usually grows wild in thickets, and is rarely cultivated. The
yams vary considerably in shape and size. Warning: These
yams are definitely poisonous and should not be used for food
unless properly prepared; seek the advice of natives when-
ever possible. The yams should he cut into very thin slices,

Figure 26. — Arrowroot {Maranta arundinacea) .

38

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 19

coated with ashes if possible, and then soaked in streams or
in salt water for 3 or 4 days, after which they should he
dried in the sun. After prolonged treatment they may be
cooked and eaten, but great caution is necessary. Local
names: Ndmi, gadoong, huwi-gadgoong, kdpak, gddu, sikdpa,
bitule, sidpa, boti, lei, hajule, hajuru, kdlut, korot, kulut,
udle, kdwai, hoi-tia, nika.

h. Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) . — This is an erect,
smooth, branched herb, 1 to 3 feet high, with small white
flowers. The thickened scaly roots may be cooked and eaten,
or they may be crushed, the abundant starch washed out.
and used as food. This is the commercial arrowroot, and is
found only in cultivation. Local names: Ardru, areroo,
aruru, droot, aiigkrik, drus, djildrut, everut, gderut, gdrut,
irut, Idrut, ngdrut, saldrut, paruta, sdgu, sdgu-hdnban, sdgu-
rdrut, pdtat-sdgu, tdwang, hula-moa, huda-sula, peda-peda,
pia, pi-waldnda, Idbia-waldnda, masoa-fdnau, tidre-arura.

i. Yam bean (Pachyrhisus erosus). — ^This vine has blue
flowers. It is often common in thickets and hedgerows, and
is sometimes planted. The turnip-shaped root is very re-
freshing, the flesh is crisp and pleasant to the taste; it is
always eaten raw, never cooked, v The very young pods may
be cooked and eaten like string beans. Warning: The ma-
ture seeds in brown pods should never be eaten as these are
poisonous. Local names: Hikamas, sinkamas, bakuwang,
bangkowan, bangkuwa, bangkuwang, bingkowang, bengku-
wang, singkuwang, huivi-hiris, besusu, djempirdngan, ubi-
plisak, oeas, oea.

j. Polynesian arrowroot (Tacca leontopetaloides) . — This
is a plant that grows 2 to 5 feet high having stems that are
distinctly grooved. The hard, usually round, and potatolike
tubers are rich in starch and may be boiled or roasted and
eaten, or better, crushed or grated and then boiled. Warn-
ing: The tubers should never be eaten raw as they are said to
be poisonous until after being crushed, washed, and cooked.
Usually the tubers are found in the loose soil some distance
from the base of the plant and from one to several to a plant.
It is sometimes cultivated, but as a wild plant is most often
found in loose sandy soil not far from the seashore. Local
names: Gdu-gdu, panarien, tayobong, ketjondang, katjunda,

39

19

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

tjdndang, labing, leki, leker, likir, tdka-laut, tatoan, kolo--
pale, katjodo, katjunda, katio, telo, tda, huda-kordno, pia,
yabia, ydmbia, mdra, mdsoa, maaeua, mok-mok, gah-gab,
vdtia, yovoli.

Figure 27. — Yam bean {Pachyrhisus erosxis) .

k. Water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) . — This is a coarse,
more or less tufted plant, 2 to 4 feet high, growing only in
fresh water swamps in open places. The nearly round, hard
tubers are produced underground and are excellent to eat,

40

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

19

boiled or roasted. This is the wild form of the so-called
ma-tai of the Chinese and the tubers in normal times are
extensively imported into the United States by them and
are served in Chinese restaurants. Local names: Apulid,

Figure 28. — ^Polynesian arrowroot (Tacca leontopetaloides) .

potok, tike, tikai, dekeng, pangoke, tereke, goro, pagoro, bigdu,
mansiro-holong , utu-utu, uchdga-ldhe.

41

19

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

Figure 29. — Water chestnut {Eleocharis dulcis)

42

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

Section X
PLANTS EATEN AS GREENS
Plants which may be eaten as greens

20

Paragraph
20

Oiuan 'At,

Figure 30. — Lu}Ja cylindrica, L. acutangula.

H 20. Plants Which May Be Eaten as Greens. — a. A, Luffa
cylindrica, B, Luffa acutangula. — These vines are cultivated,
and also often grov/ wild. The flowers are yellow. The young

516614^—43-

43

20

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

green fruits (not more than half ripe) may be cooked and
eaten; at this stage they make an excellent vegetable; the
tender shoots, flowers, and young leaves may also be cooked
and eaten. The mature fruits are too tough to eat. One spe-
cies ((A), fig. 30) has sharply angled fruits, the other (B)
has smooth fruits suggesting a smooth cucumber. The fruits
of the wild form, occurring in thickets especially near the
sea, are smaller than those of the cultivated forms. Ix)cal
names: Patola, petola, ketola, hestru, blestru, motini, pacho-

OlIlOM •■It t^ /f

Figure 31. — ^Balsam vine {Momordica charantia).

44

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 20

dag, djingi, ojong, pet ola-heng gala, petola-pdndjang, petola-
tjina, kimput, ernes, kdtjur, hurung-djdwa, timput, lopang,
dodahdla, ojong.

h. Balsam vine (Momordica charantia) . — This is a slender
vine with small yellow flowers. The rough fruits, variable in
shape, are usually yellow, the pulp reddish. The young
leaves and shoots may be eaten as greens (better mixed with
other plant material, as they are rather bitter), while the
fruits may be cooked and eaten. Tliis plant is found both
in cultivation and wild; the fruits of the wild form are al-
ways smaller than are those of the cultivated ones, which
may be 6 inches long or even more. Local names: Papdri,
pepdre, pdre, pdria, pdlia, pdnia, pulia, peria, paparidno,
taparipong, karaidno, paridne, paliak, pentu, pepdreh,
pdja, truwuk, kdnibeh, popdri, foria, apaldya, ampaldya,
apdlia, amargoso, almagoso, vidrgoso, pupuruvi.

c. Commelinaceae. — Figure 32 shows two common and
widely distributed representatives of Cyanotis (A) (D) and
two of Commelina (B) (C). These are somewhat fleshy,
trailing or ascending herbs, with blue flowers. They occur
in open places, waste and cultivated lands and meadows,
and all are common. The plants may be eaten raw, steamed,
or boiled. Local names: Bramhdngan, gewor, petungan,
tdli-korang, tdli-sdit, rehha-mosor, alibdngon, sabilau, ulik-
bdngon, nemeneakori, vdte, mau-u-toga, aihere-pdpe, rebha-
kongong,

d. Forrestia marginata. — This erect plant grows to about 2
feet in height. The stems are smooth or hairy with dense
heads of small violet or purple flowers in the leaf axils. The
tender shoots may be cooked and eaten, these parts of the
plant being even sold in native markets in Malaya. Local
names: Arigbdngon, tdhig-tdhig, limpungan, gewor, kerok-
bdtok.

e. Three species of Amaranthus. — ^Vstrious species of Ama-
ranthus occur (often in great abundance) throughout
the Malaysian and Polynesian regions, particularly in open
places (especially (B) flg. 34) , waste lands about settlements
(especially (C) ) , and more or less cultivated (A) . Some
((A) and (B) ) are often 3 feet high; others (C) are usually

45

20

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

not more than 1 foot high. In the cultivated forms the
leaves are often variegated, dull purple to even red. The
young shoots and leaves of all kinds of Amaranthus make

Cu»»i> *^

Figure 32. — Commelinaceae.

excellent greens when cooked. Local names: Kolitis, hdlon,
bdjam, hdja, bdjem, vdte, driti, nakeke, ddmu-ddmu, drum,
drun, howa, hajoem, tdrnak, tdrnjak, lembain, nddu, medja.

46

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

20

wdwa, sinue, sinahue, podo, maldbut, Idhut, matdhut, mala-
huto, uta-paine, ut-ldbut, loda, loda-kohori.

Figure 33. — Forrestia marginata.

/. Celosia argentea.— This ((A), fig. 35) is a wild form of
the common garden cock's comb and is often abundant in
meadows, old clearings, waste places, but always in the open,

47

20

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

never in forests. It is about 2 feet high and the flower bear-
ing parts are shining white to pink. The young shoots and
leaves are boiled and eaten as greens. The garden forms of

Figure 34. — Aniaranthus (three species).

<

the common cock's comb ((B) and (C) ) may also be so used,
the floral parts being red, purple, or yellow, but these forms

48

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

20

are usually not found wild. Local names: Borotjo, sangsri,
kuntha, kindaydhan, kudidpa.
g. Alternanthera sessilis. — This is a common, widely dis-

Piu»if

PiGXJRE 35. — Celosia argentea.

tributed, weedy plant, more or less ascending. It is found
in waste places, old rice paddies, along streams and ditches,
roadsides, about dwellings, in gardens, and in damp meadows.

49

20

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

It has small heads of white flowers in the leaf -axils; the
leaf -form is variable. The younger parts of the plant may

Figure 36. — Alternanthera sessiUs.

be cooked and eaten as greens. Local names: Daun-rusa,
daun-tolod, keremak, tolod, letah-hdyam, honga-honga,
vao-sosolo.

h. Ceylon spinach (Basella rubra). — This fleshy, twining

50

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

20

vine grows in hedges and along fences. Sometimes it is cul-
tivated. The rather fleshy stems may be dark red, purple,

Oltx»»l *«&

Figure 37. — Ceylon spinach {Basella rubra) .

or yellowish green and the leaves may be green, red, or
purplish. It does not occur in the forest but chiefly near
settlements. The small flowers are pink and the fruits black
or dark purple. The whole plant may be eaten raw or cooked.
Local names: Libdto, arogbdti, alugbdti, dundula, gandola,
gendola, kendola, gendjerot, kandola.

51

20

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

i. Pilea gldberrima. — This erect plant, a somewhat juicy-
herb, grows 2 to 5 feet high. It has opposite leaves and
numerous small greenish or greenish white flowers. A num-
ber of closely allied species occur, often in great abundance,
in wet or damp high forests, in shaded ravines, and along

Omm Nt

Figure 38. — Pilea glaberrima.

streams, but always in the forest. In Java the tender young
leaves and stems are eaten both raw and cooked, and are
actually sold in the native markets. Local names : Pohpo-
han, tiotiok-buba (in Java).

52

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

20

j. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) . — This very fleshy weed-
like plant is often abundant in settled areas throughout the
Tropics, while other forms occur near the sea. The whole

OILION ^2

Figure 39. — Purslane {Portulaca oleracea) .

plant may be eaten raw or cooked as greens. Local names:
Golasiman, ulisiman, gelang, aturi, tamole, krokut, re-
serejan, djdlu-djdlu-kiki.

k. Seaside purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum) . — This is
a trailing branched herb with fleshy stems and leaves, oc-

53

20

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

curring only back of the beach or brackish marshes along
the shores of lagoons, etc., within the influence of salt or
brackish water. Widely distributed in all tropical countries.
The whole plant may be eaten raw or cooked as greens, but

Figure 40. — Seaside purslane {Sesuvium portulacastrum)..

it is desirable to change the water two or three times to elim-
inate the salt. Local names: Chdra, dampdlit, gelang-ldut,
geldng-pasir, rumput-bdbi, kernel, djdlo-djdlo, tatdla-dogoto,
birbiri.

54

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

20

I. Boerhaavia diffusa. — This is a rather diffuse, spreading
or ascending, branched herb with small pink flowers, the
stems often reddish or purplish. Common in open places
especially near the seashore back of the beach. The some-
what thickened leaves and young somewhat fleshy stems

Figure 41. — Boerhaavia diffusa.

may be cooked and eaten. The roots are reported as being
eaten in Fiji in times of scarcity, but as their use as food
affects the kidneys, they should be used with caution if at
all. Local names: Katuri, vidve, rima, dafoe, kisi, kalisi-lisi,
runa, runa-runa, muna-muna.

55

20

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

m. Solanum nigrum. — This is an erect, branched herb that
normally grows 1 to 2 feet high. It has small white flowers
and small black berries. It is common both in waste places
and cultivated lands. The young leafy shoots make excellent

OcLUM 42

Figure 42. — Solanum nigrum.

greens when cooked, and are extensively so used in the Tropics
of both hemispheres. The small black fruits are edible.
Local names: Anti, rdmpai, rdnti, leuntja, leuntja-hddak,
leuntja-hdjam, leutja-pdhit, konti, buse, hohose, magdlo,
popolo.

56

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

20

n. Ipomoea aquatica. — ^This vine grows only in shallow
fresh water ponds and swamps, and resembles the sweet-
potato vine. It has pink flowers. The tender stems and
young leaves make very excellent greens, and are frequently

Figure 43. — Ipomoea aquatica.

gathered and sold in the native markets for this purpose.
Local names: Kankong, kangko, kankung, naniri, pangpung,
rumpun, kaldjau, lalidih, Idra, Idre, sajdha, sariokang,
pondngoi, kdnto, tatdnggo, tdnggo, dngo-ddno, kdko-ddno,
kingkoi, koiigkia, utdngko, heehob, takdko, kdko.

57

•0

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

o. Ottelia alismoides. — ^This herb has rather large, thin
leaves. It grows in slow shallow streams, pools, and quiet
ponds, the white flowers extending above the sui'face of the

Figure 44. — Ottelia alismoides.

water, the leaves wholly submerged or extending to the sur-
face. The entire plant may be cooked and eaten as greens.
Local names: Etjeng, tjowehan, lila-laldngkow, podang, kala-
hua, ddmong-ildlim, Idnten-sdga, tardbang.

58

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

20

p. (Monochoria vaginalis and Monochoria hastata) . — This
herb is somewhat fleshy and grows about 1 to 1 Yz feet high.
It grows in open wet places, old rice paddies, or along streams.

ObMM

Figure 45. — A. Monochoria vaginalis; B, Monochoria hastata.

and is often abundant. It has blue flowers. The whole plant
except the roots may be eaten raw, steamed, or boiled. Local
names: Etjeng, bengok, pingo, wewean, etjeng-kebo, gabi^
gabi, Idpa-ldpa, kosol-kosol.

616614°— 43-

59

20

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

q. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) . — ^While this
plant is a native of Brazil and of comparatively recent intro-
duction in the Old World Tropics, it is now widely naturalized
and wherever it occurs it is usually very abundant. The

FiGTjRE 46. — ^Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) .

flowers are blue with a yellow spot. They float on ponds and
slow streams, and also occur as a weed in rice paddies. In
Malaya the young leaves, leaf stalks, and flowering parts are
steamed or boiled and eaten. Local names: Bengok, wewean,
etjeng-gondok, riri-vdi.

60

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

20

r. Emilia sonchifolia. — ^This is a common and widely dis-
tributed weed and usually grows less than 1 foot high. It
is found in open places, meadows, wastelands, and coconut
plantations, but not in the forest. The flowers are pink or

tkt*^ 'JfU

Figure 47. — Emilia sonchifolia.

in some forms, reddish. The whole plant may be eaten raw
or cooked. It is botanically allied to lettuce. Local names:
Djonge, momelan, sdrop, sundilan, kemandelan, pdtah-
kemudi, tagulinas, libum, lamlampdka, fualele, meleni-vdo.
s. Erechtites. — ^These two weeds are very abundant in de-
serted clearings and waste places. Erechtites valerianic olia

61

20

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

((A), fig. 48) bears pink flowers; Erechtites Jiier act folia (B),
yellowish flowers. The plants are usually 2 to 3 feet high.
The tender parts may be cooked and eaten as greens. Local
names: Djildmpang, puyung, hageeni, holostrok, djdvibrong,
doblang, koroyono, sintrong.

//A

Figure 48. — Erechtites.

t. Spilanthes acmella. — This weedy herb grows both erect
or ascending. It is branched and bears yellow flowers. The
plant grows abundantly in meadows, waste places, along
paths, in abandoned agricultural lands, but not in the forests.

62

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

20

The younger parts of the plant may be cooked and eaten as
greens. Local names: Ddun-getang, ddun-gulang, ddun-
moorit, gletang, getang, gdtarig, gulang, djotang, legetan.

OiLt«« yj

Figure 49. — Spilanthes acfiiella.

legetan-kebo, sarunen, sarunei-sdpi, sriinen, djotjong,
djotjong-sdwa, kirat-tjirat, rdt-tjirat, bdga, gatdng-gdtang,
mlat-vilat. ddun-ldda.

u. Pluchea indica. — This small shrub grows 2 to 3 feet
high. It is common and widely distributed, especially near
the seashore and in wet soil. It bears a pale violet flower.

63

20

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

The young leaves, tips of the branches, and young flowers
may be cooked and eaten, and are extensively so used in
Java. Local names: Beluntas, luntas, tluntas, baluntas,
baruiitas, blunias, lamutdsa, lenabou, nih, hahig-bahig,
baning-baiiing, kalapini.

0««AM» *^

FiGTTRE 50. — PliLchea indica.

V. Acalypha indica. — This is an erect, branched herb
which grows up to 3 feet high. It occurs as a weed
about settlements, in meadows, along ditches, and in waste
places generally, often abundantly; it does not occur in the

64

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

20

forests. The young leaves and tender stems may be cooked
and eaten. Local names: Leldtaiig, Idteng-putih, hayeman,
tjeka-mas, ongo-ongo.
w. Acalypha wilkesiana. — ^This is an ornamental shrub

Figure 51. — Acalypha indica.

which grows 5 to 15 feet high. It has green or reddish twigs
and variegated leaves, green and variously mottled or light
red, dark brownish red, sometimes with greenish-yellow
blotches, or pale edges ((B), fig. 52). It is easily recognized

65

20

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

by its colored leaves. It is a native of Polynesia and is
planted in hedges and near houses throughout Malaya, fre-
quently abundant. The young shoots and young leaves may

Figure 52. — Acalypha loilkesiana.

be cooked and eaten. There are various other species of
this genus, herbs, shrubs, or small trees, all with green
leaves, whose young parts may also be similarly prepared
and eaten with safety. Local names: Ddun-vidngsi, ddun-
ndngsi, kalamhuci, kalahuci-ddmu.

66

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

20

X. Horseradish tree (Moringa oleifera) . — ^This is a small or
medium-sized tree, 15 to 20 feet high, with fine thin leaves
and white flowers. It is cultivated and spontaneous in many
parts of the Old World Tropics, but is not found in the forests.

«U.«N >*1

Figure 53. — Horseradish tree {Moringa oleifera).

The leaves, shoots and young pods make excellent greens
when cooked, or they may be eaten raw. The roots have the
characteristic biting taste of horseradish. The mature pods
are too tough to be eaten, but the seeds may be roasted and
used as food. Local names: Malungai, marungai, mourong.

67

20

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

remungai, mungai, harungai, parongi, Tcelo, kelor, keloro,
kerol, kerel, keror, kelohe, kilor, tjelor, kawona, wona,
moltong, wori, kdi-fok, hue-fo, p6, fok, kenele, wakerele,
uto-keleno, uwa-kerelo.

Figure 54. — Coral tree {Erythrina variegata).

y. Coral tree (.Erythrina variegata) .—This tree grows from
20 to 50 feet in height. It is common along the seashore,
and is often planted in settled areas along roadsides. The
rather large, crowded flowers are bright red. It does not

68

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

20

occur in the high forest. The young branches are usually
somewhat spiny. The leaves and the tender shoots may be
steamed or boiled and eaten as greens. Local names:
Ddp-dap, dddap, dddap-laut, dhddhak, belendung, thethek.

Figure 55. — Sesbania grandiflora.

deris, galdla-kokotu, galdla-itam oeken, lola-kohori, pdpa-
auko, ngolola-dalatoro, drdla, dlo-dlo, gatde, gdb-gab, gdp^
gap, gdo-gao, isddra, rdl, rdr.

69

20

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

z. Seshania grandiflora. — This slender tree bears long,
slender, hanging pods up to 2 feet long or longer, and large
white or wine-red flowers, these 2 to 3 inches long. These
trees are sometimes planted and often naturalized; they are

•lkM4 '4C

Figure 56. — Thespesia populnea.

not in the forests. The young leaves and the young pods
may be cooked and eaten, while the large flowers and flower
buds are very commonly cooked and used as food. An outline
of the very large flower is shown in figure 55 (A) . Do not eat

70

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 20

the mature seeds. Local names: Turi, tuli, turing, toroj, tuwi,
suri, paldwii, tanunu, katudai, ghunga, ulidngo, kola, katuri,
katurai, gduai-gduai, kambang-turi oufai, ouai.

aa. Thespesia populnea. — This is a small or medium sized
tree bearing large yellow flowers. It is found chiefly near the
seashore and usually immediately back of the beach. The
smooth leaves may be eaten raw or cooked, as well as the
flower buds and the flowers. The rather dry, nearly, round
fruits are not edible. Local names : Milo, miro, banda, bandlo,
bandgo, bdlu, bdru-laut, pengegen, pakeena, amde, vdte,
ndmir, novoinil, mulo-miilo, wdru-laut, sdlimuli, hdlimuli.

ab. Pemphis acidula. — This is a small tree attaining a
height of 10 or 12 feet. It has small, 6-parted flowers and
small leaves. It is found only along the seashore, where it is
common and very widely distributed. The small leaves have
a distinctly acid taste and may be eaten raw. Local names:
Ngingia, sanggdle, aie, edgi, gie, ngie, ingia, konge, nigas,
nigdshi, ngdngae, ndnghi, kasugel, bantigi, kabantigi, pantigi,
ligat, mentigi, wdkat-besi, tjdntigi, sdntigi, sentigi^ menthigi,
keneas, silu-tdsi,

ac. Tournefortia argentea. — This is a shrub with stout
branches. It has grayish white, very hairy leaves and many
small, crowded flowers. It grows only on sandy seashores,
and is common and widely distributed. The leaves, may be
eaten raw. Local names: Tauhunu, tausini, tahinu, tausunu,
tahunu, tohonu, tainu, hunik, hunig, geo-geo, sdsran, neyin-
pori, ndnquitpdra, ndth, bukdbuk, moral-babulu, babaukan,
kibdko, Iddu-boling, mokal-ahua, moral-ahua, nela, kdrpo.

ad. Morinda citrifolia. — ^This is a shrub or small tree, vary-
ing from 4 or 5 to 10 or 15 feet in height. It is common along
the seashore. The flowers are white and the fruits are green-
ish white. The young leaves and the young fruits may be
eaten raw or cooked, and the mature fruits, deprived of their
seeds, may also be eaten. Local names:" Bengkudu, meng-
kudu, bangkudo, bangkuro, bakulu, bentis, kemudu, kudu,
pdtje, tjangkudu, kodhuk, pamari, makudu, manakudu,
mangkudu, mekudu, wangkudu, tibah. aikombo, eino, nen,
nino, nenu, tumbong-dso, noni, nonu, Idda, ndcour, gogu, Tid-
bul, malueg, kura, worpil, alin.

71

20

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

ae. Cantala (Agave cantala). — This form of the "century
plant" is extensively grown in the drier parts of the Malayan
region, sometimes in plantations, sometimes as scattered
plants in fence rows, waste places, etc., where it is naturalized.

tSOfi

PiGiniE 57. — Pemphis acidula.

The thick, fleshy leaves, 3 to 6 feet long, are very sharp-
pointed, and their edges are very spiny. In Java, the tender
heart or "cabbage" ((A), fig. 60) in the crown of the growing

72

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

20

plant is extensively eaten. It should be cut into small pieces
and well cooked, preferably with one or two changes of water.

ISk

P^GURE 58. — Tovrnefortia argentea.

Warning: Many of the American species are not edible; some
contain saponin and others contain minute stinging crystals
of oxalate of lime. Seek the advice of natives whenever pos-

73

20

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

sible. Local names: Ndnas-kosta, ndnas-sdbrang, ndnas-
batdwi, ndnas-haldndah, gdnas-sdbrang, Idnas-haldndah,

FIGURE 59. — Morinda citrifoUa.

mdgei, pita, laldto-holdno, pena-seuk, nas-wdtan, nandhi-
djawa.

74

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

21

Figure 60. — Cantala (Agave cantala).

Section XI

EDIBLE FRUITS

Fruits in general Paragraph

Specific fruits _ 22

■ 21. Fruits in General.— a. There are scores of varieties
of the common banana, and for all practical purposes the
plantain cannot be distinguished from the edible banana

516614° — 43-

75

21_22 QUARTERMASTER CORPS

except that all the bananas may be eaten raw, while the
plantain fruits must be cooked — either boiled, fried, or
roasted; green and ripe bananas may also be cooked. The
fruits vary much in shape and size as well as in color, vary-
ing at maturity from green to various shades of yellow, or
even brownish-purple. Many wild forms occur in the for-
ested regions (usually, however, not in the high forest except
along streams). The fruits of the wild species contain
numerous seeds and small quantities of pulp, but even these
may be gathered when young and cooked. Other parts of
the banana plant may be used as food, especially the fairly
large more or less cone-shaped terminal flower bud (see A, fig.
61). These flower buds may be boiled or roasted in hot
ashes, and certain varieties make an excellent vegetable;
others contain fairly large quantities of tannic acid and
are hence bitter, but the bitter principle may be eliminated
in part by cooking in several changes of water. With the
bitter kinds it is best to cut the bud into rather small pieces
before cooking.

b. The soft inner parts of the rather thick root and the
tender heart of the base of the stems may be cut into small
pieces, boiled, and eaten. Even the small shoots from the
lower parts of the plant may be cooked and eaten when
nothing better is available.

c. In general these statements apply to all types of the
banana, whether wild or cultivated. While the parts other
than the fruits and the flower buds do not rate as first class
food by any means, yet they are safe to eat when boiled
or roasted.

■ 22. Specific Fruits. — a. Banana. — ^This fruit is too well
known to discuss here. The banana may be eaten raw or
cooked, but the plantain requires cooking. Other parts of
the cultivated bananas and plantains, and of the wild forms
that occur in the forests and old clearings, may be boiled
or roasted and eaten, especially the large flower bud ((A),
fig. 61) . (B) is a wild and cultivated banana extending from
the Moluccas and New Guinea to Polynesia, with erect fruit
clusters. There are innumerable native names for the com-
mon banana and plantain; some of those for Musa Troglody-

76

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

22

tarum are: Fei, maia, soa'a, huetu, laufu, ddak, tungkat-
Idngit.

b. Papaw or Papaya (Carica papaya). — ^This is a soft
wooded, erect, normally unbranched tree. It usually grows

Figure 61. — ^Banana (A, Musa gapientum; B, Musa troglodytarum) ,

from 6 to 15 feet high. The large yellow melonlike fruits are
borne on the trunk, and are excellent food. The green im-
mature fruits may be cooked and eaten. The young leaves
and leaf -stems and flowers (the male flowers borne on sep-
arate plants) may be cooked and eaten as greens. It is, how-

77

22

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

ever, important that such parts he cooked with several
changes of water to remove the hitter taste and certain
harmful suhstances. Local names: Papaya, papdja, popdja,
tapdja, gedang, esi, uliti, kahaelo, pertek, pastela, hetik.

ouMw m,

FiGURK 62. — ^Papaw or Papaya {Carica papaya).

emhetik, hotik, hdla, si-kdilo, kdtes, kahdja, kehdja, kapdla,
kustela, nasilu, kalikih, pantjene, mddjan, hddas, hdridas,
mdndjan, hdngo, pddu, kdsi, kaliki, sumojowi, titimu, mue-

78

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

22

mala, udi-melai, uta-mdlai, paldki, sempdin, siberidni, sdm-
ber, titgono.

c. Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) . — This is a large tree that
may grow 40 feet high or more. It has very large lobed

Figure 63. — Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) .

leaves and rather large, nearly round green or brownish-green
fruits. It is a basic food plant in many parts of Polynesia,
where many cultivated varieties are found. The seedless

79

22

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

form ((A), fig. 63) is utilized either boiled, baked, or fried.
The large seeds in the seeded form (B) (Malaysia) , boiled
or roasted, are excellent food, as are the seeds of other species.
Local names: Mai, ulu, uru, uto, lemai, dug -dug, rima, kuru,
suku, sukuen, sukon, kardra, suune, sou, mdguh, ne-mdre,
thdo, hatopul, kulu, gomo, gomu, gogomo, hemo, ulule, urule,
ulur, hukun, Idkuf, kuloro, bitdla, kaluweh, kemdnsi,
kaldwi, gei, tu, dmo, mue, ur-knam, kardra, kaldra, kundu,

ndmu, kuu.

d. Jak fruit (Artocarpus heterophylla) .—This is a large
tree, normally cultivated only. The very large greenish or
yellowish-green fruits are 1 to 3 feet long, and sometimes
weigh up to 40 pounds. The fruits are borne directly on the
tree trunk and larger branches. The pulp may be eaten raw.
The numerous large seeds make excellent food when boiled
or roasted. There are many different species of Artocarpus
in Malaysia. All have abundant milky sap, and the seeds of
all of them are edible when cooked. Local names: Ldngka,
ndngka, ndngkeu, ndka, nandka, pdna, pdnas, pandsa, pindsa,
andsah, nda, sosak, lamdsa, maldsa, mendso, bendso, bdtuk,
bdduk, endduk, mdduk, hoka, tjidu, nand-kang, kulop, ulu-
ndka, amnadlo, tafena, ndka, ndkai, ndkan, nakdne, ndknak,
anda, andane.

e. Champedak (Artocarpus champeden). — ^This large tree
has a milky sap. Its leaves are more or less hairy. The
large, cylindric fruits borne on the larger branches are
smaller than in the jak fruit and have a very strong odor.
The pulp is edible and the seeds are edible when boiled or
roasted. Local names: Champedak, tjampedak, tueda,
bikdwan, sibodak, subodak, tembedak, temedak, tiwddak,
tjapedak, kdkon, pulutan, bateda, ndka-wdra, kawera,
kaferak, tdbodoko, tewdlak, nakdne, anda-wdsi, indale, tafela,
esiolo, andane, tamberak, tudda, tuddak.

f. Artocarpus rotunda. — ^This large tree has a milky juice.
The fruit is round, greenish or greenish brown, and is found
on the smaller branches. These fruits are up to 5 inches in
diameter and covered with short stiff conical spines. This
tree occurs in Malaysia, but not in Polynesia. The fruit is
one of the best of Malayan fruits, the well-flavored pulp being

80

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

22

eaten raw. The large seeds should be boiled or roasted before
eating. Local names: Kosar, peusar, tampunai, tampunik,
keledang, mandalika, purin, tdwan.

eiLMII ''IS

Figure 64. — Jak fruit {Artocarpics heterophylla) .

g. Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) and Pulusan (Nephe-
Hum mutaUle). — These fairly large trees are usually culti-
vated, but the Pulusan is sometimes found in forests. The
characteristic red fruits are one-seeded. The seed is sur-

81

22

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

rounded by a white unusually well-flavored pulp. Both the
Rambutan and the Pulusan are among the very best fruits
of Malaya. Local names: (A) Rambutan, rdmbot, rambuta,
djailan, sokdpas, puru-bidwak, hahujam, kakdpas, likis, siban.

Figure 65. — Champedak {Artoca7-pii^ champeden).

biriti, sagdlong, beliti, maliti, kajokan, puson, usdre, buluwan,
waldtu, wajdtu, baldtii, leldmu, toleang; (B) Pulusan, puldsan.

82

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

22

tukou-bidwak, kapuldsan, molaitomo, mulitan, bdli, buldla,
lintias, laguan, potian.

h. Lansone {Lansium domesticum) . — This a cultivated tree.

••4 Ma

FiGtmE 66. — Artocarpus rotunda.

The pale, yellowish fruits are found on the trunk and on the
larger branches below the leaves. It is one of the best
of the tropical fruits. Local names: Lansone, Idngsat, Idha,

83

22

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

Idnsa, Idsa, Idse, Idsat, lasdte, aha, rdsak, rihat, Idwak, lehat,
lainsa, laldtsat, lasdtol, lakdole, nasdte, Idngsep, tjeloring,
duku, dukem, lukem, lukdma, ddnsot, rdnso, lonsong.

Figure 67.— A, Rambutan {Nephelium lappaceum); B, Pulusan

{Nephelium mutabile) .

i. Guava (Psidium guajava) .—This is a small shrub or tree
that grows 5 to 15 feet high, often abundant, but never found
in real forests. It has white flowers and pale greenish or

84

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

22

yellowish-green, smooth, many-seeded fruits. This excellent
fruit may be eaten raw or cooked. Local names: Bay abas,
guaydbas, gudbang, kudva, abas, tudva, bidwas, gawdja.

Figure 68. — Lansone {Lansium domesticum) .

djdmbu-bidji, galiman, bidwas, gogdwas, kedjdwas, pidwas,
libu, bajdwas, petokal, tokal, sotong, gudwa, wajdmas,
kojabdsa, bojowat, ddmbu, biabuto, kudjdbas, kojdbas,
kajawdse, kojafdte, gawdja.

85

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

j. Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) . — This is a small or
medium sized tree usually about 20 feet high. It is often
common in more or less settled areas, but not in the forests.

Figure 69.— Guava {Psidium guajava).

The yellowish to purplish very juicy large part of the fruit
is very refreshing. The single seed in the smaller part of
the fruit is the cashew nut of commerce and should be eaten

86

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

22

boiled or roasted. Warning: The sap in the shell of the
small part of the fruit surrounding the seed is very caustic.
In boiling or roasting the seed-hearing part, avoid the steam
or smoke. Local names: Balubag, kdsoi, djambu-monje.

Figure 70. — Cashew {Anacardium occidentale) :

djdmbu-dipa, djdmhu-gddjus, djdmhu-erang^ djambu-siki,
djdvibu-mete, djdmbu-dwipa, gddiu, wojdkis, kanoke, mdsa^
pdna, huwa-jakia, buwah-monjet.

87

22

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

k. Sweet sop (Annona squamosa). — ^This is a small tree,
usually 15 feet high, and is found both wild and in cultiva-
tion. Jhe medium-sized pale green fruit is of excellent

••*»*(i •*&

Figure 71. — Sweet sop {Annona sqitamosa)

flavor and is always eaten raw. This tree is found chiefly
in and near settlements, not in the forests. Local names:
Atis, atisi, apeli, dta, sarikdja, srikdja, sirikdja, srikdwis,
sarkddja, garoso, perse, hirikdja.

88

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

22

I. Sour sop (Annona muricata) . — ^This tree is about 15 feet
high, rather similar to the sweet sop, is generally cultivated,
but is sometimes wild. It is found chiefly in and near settle-

PlU.M« '♦«.

Figure 72. — Sour sop {Annona muricata) .

ments, not in the forests. The large, well-flavored greenish
fruits are always eaten raw. Local names: Guayabano,
lagudna, ndngka-beldnda, ndngka-waldnda, ndngka-ma-

89

22

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

nila, ndngka, moris, durian-heldnda, swirswak, sursak,
djdmhu-londa, srikdja-djdwa, srikdja-weldndi, surikdja-
tveldnda, ndka, ndkat, haniiso, dnad-waldnda, anda-waldta,
inda-waldta, tafena-wardta.

Figure 73. — Custard apple {Annona reticulata).

m. Custard apple {Annona reticulata) . — This tree, about
15 feet high, is similar to the sweet sop and the sour sop. It
is found chiefly in cultivation in the settled areas, never in the

90

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

22

forests. The large well-flavored greenish juicy fruits are
eaten raw. Local names: Anonas, manona, nona, nonas,
buwah-nona, tdpu-tdpu, serba-rdhsa, djamhu-iiona, djus,
manowa, malowa, mulwa, kanowa, kemulwa, kliiwa, sirikdja-
susu, nona-daelok, dta-kdse, boinon.

FiGtTRE 74. — ^Mango (Mangifera indica) .

n. Mango {Mangifera indica ) . — This is usually a large tree,
mostly planted; not found in the forests. It is one of the
very best of tropical fruits. Most of the varieties in Malaya

516614—43-

91

22

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

and Polynesia have yellow fruits. Rarely an individual may
be allergic to mangos, and in such 'cases a skin rash may
develop; very rarely the individuals may be affected by
the leaves. Other species of the genus in Malaya, all with
edible fruits, have a very irritating sap (binjai, bachang.

Figure 75. — Sapodilla {Achras zapota) .

lanjut, kwini) affecting the skin quite as does poison ivy.
The indicated treatment is the same as for poison ivy
poisoning. Local names: Manga, mdngga, mdga, pdho, pdo,
po, mempelam, lempelam, morpolom, bdlem, pegun, peigu,
pager, ampelavi, pelam, guwae, dwa, lelit, wowa, pdwen.

92

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

22

ruwe, mapldne, mdhlang, apdlum, ajder, baldmo, soh, olai,
taipa.

0. Sapodilla (Achras zapota) . — This is a medium sized
tree, usually 15 to 25 feet high, v/ith a milky sap. It grows

PiGxniE 76. — Jambolan {Syzygium cumini).

both cultivated and spontaneously, but not in the forests.
The grayish to brownish fruits vary in shape from round
to oval and are excellent to eat. The pulp which is pinkish-

93

22

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

white to reddish -brown is sweet and somewhat granular.
The pulp surrounds several fairly large smooth black seeds.
They should not be cooked. Local names: chico, sdwo-
londa, sabu-manela, sdba-djawa, tjiku, sdwo-manila.

Figure 77. — Syzygium aqueum.

p. Jambolan iSyzygium cumini) . — This is a medium sized
tree which grows 20 to 30 feet high. It is found both wild
and cultivated. The tree has somewhat leathery leaves,

94

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 22

small white flowers, and one-seeded, light to dark purple,
smooth fruits. The single seed is surrounded by a whitish or
yellowish, sourish, rather pleasant tasting edible pulp.
Local names: Duhat, djambulang, duwe, djambelang, diam-
bula, djdmlang, djuwet, djiwat, dhdlus, kldgu.

q. Syzygium aqueum. — This small tree, 15 to 20 feet high,
is chiefly cultivated, but sometimes grows wild. The leaves
are short-stalked and grow in opposite pairs. The flowers
ate white to pink in color. The edible fruits are smooth,
pink in color, and somewhat juicy. There are many different
species of Syzygium in the forested regions and their fruits
may be eaten with entire safety, although some have almost
no pulp. The flowers of all species are white, pink, or red,
and always have many stamens. The fruits vary greatly in
size, some of them being dry with no pulp, others with fairly
ample pulp, which is usually acid. Local names (5. aqueum) :
Tdmbis, tdbis, arbottle, macupa, inddhau, jdmbu-dyer.,
jdmbu-jembir, samba, gora, Jcilbal, Jcumpas, jdmbu-mangkoa,
kumpdsa, kokuka, kombas, kembes, kebes, keket, omuto,
tdkaw, gdmbu, wua-usa, tepete, lutune-waele, popote, ouna,
jdrem, ausdhmoh, purori, jddi.

r. Malay apple {Syzygium malaccense) . — This is a medium
sized tree, 15 to 30 feet high, with somewhat leathery leaves.
The red flowers are found on the branches below the leaves.
This tree is chiefly cultivated. The pink to reddish, thin
r.kinned, smooth fruit, somevv'hat resembling an apple, varies
from 2 to 4 inches in length. The thick, rather well-flavored
pulp surrounding the large seed is edible. Local names:
Djdmbu-berteh, djdmbu-bol, djdmbu-susu, djdmbol, mang-
koa, gora-merah, gora-ldmo, gora-tome, darsdna, dersdna,
kochua, upo, kupo, koa, mdkii, mutiha, lutune, nutune,
rutuno, dlu, kumkolo, gogoa, gorogo, sua.

s. Rose apple {Syzygium jambos). — ^This is a small tree,
10 to 15 feet high, and has white flowers. The fruits are
somewhat rose-scented, greenish white, egg-shaped or some-
what pear-shaped and are about 1 inch long. This tree is
often planted and occurs also in thickets, waste places, and
secondary forests. The tree has a wide distribution. The
fruits are eaten raw. Local names: Jdmbu-mdwar, jdmbu-

95

22

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

dersdna, jdmbu-keldmpok, jdmhu-hulu, jdmbu-krdton, kom-
bot, kembes-woldnda, kekete, tamvoi, ydmpoi, kahika,
kahika-papda.

PlLXOH ^M

FiGUBE 78. — Malay apple (Sysygium malaccense) .

t. Santol (Sandoricum koetjape) . — ^This is a medium sized
tree, about 30 feet high, and bears round, yellowish fruits
about 2 to 5 inches in diameter. It grows both wild and culti-
vated and is often rather common. The fruits are covered

96

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

22

with very short hairs and contain from two to five fairly
large seeds, surrounded by a dirty white, soft, juicy, sour-
sweet, edible pulp. The seeds are not eaten, only the sur-

FiGURE 79. — Rose apple {Syzygium jarnbos),

rounding pulp. Local names: Sdntol, sdntu, sentol, sotol,
setol, kechdpi, ketchdpi, satulu, wasuu, pono, kasdpi, hasipi,
Jceetol, setung, sentul.

97

22

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

u. Polynesian plum (Spondias dulcis) . — ^This tree, 25 to 30
feet high, is widely distributed in Polynesia. It is often
planted. The fruits are plumlike and are yellowish or yel-

9iujtt

Figure 80. — Santol {Sandoricum koetjape) .

lowish-green. The thin pulp surrounding the large seed-
bearing part is excellent to eat. While this species occurs
also in some parts of Malaysia as a cultivated tree, its place
in the forests is taken by a very similar species, Spondias

98

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

22

pinnata, the fruits of which are also edible. Local names of
Spondias dulcis: Vi, wi, ivi, nevie, vi-vao. Of Spondias pin-
nata: Kadongdong, liwas, ontijo, otjo, ulite, urital, vdte, teti-
mur, ndssou, ngolo, alubihon, libas, ddnas.

PiGiiRE 81. — Polynesian plum (Spondias dulcis).

V. Bilimbi and carambola. — ^These are small trees, 12 to 15
feet high, with green or pale green, very acid fruits which
may be eaten raw or cooked. In one, the smooth fruits,
similar to small green cucumbers, are borne on the trunks

99

22

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

and larger branches; in the other, the fruits borne on the
small branchlets are sharply five-angled and star-shaped in
cross section. Cultivated and wild in the settled areas, not

Figure 82, — ^Bilimbi and Carambola (A, Averrhoa carambola;

B, Averrhoa bilimbi) .

in the forests. Local names: Balimbing, belimhing-mdnis,
helimbines, balibi, kdmias, iba, urr-ruall, hull-ruall, arrafd-
thna-owotrai, kalamias, kdmias, gardhan-malibi, malimbin.

100

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

22

tjallngting, limbi, libi, lumpias, lompiat, rumpiasa, pulirang,
bdknil, tuelela, taprera, uteke, takuele, tofuo.
w. Tamarind (Tainarindus indica) . — ^This is a large tree,

PiGXJRE 83. — Tamarind {Tamarindus indica) .

often planted, sometimes wild, but not found in the forests.
The fruit is brown. The acid pulp surrounding the seeds may
be eaten; it is a mild laxative. The young leaves and flowers
may be cooked and eaten as greens. Local names: Asam,

101

22

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

dsam-djdwa, dsam-djow, dtjein, kdju-dsavi, sampdlok,
dtjam-tdgi, tamaldgi, tjumaldgi, tdngkal-dsem, tjelagi, bdge,
kamdrii, kdza, heldgi, mdke, mdge, nadge, tobi, samhdlagi,

Figure 84. — Cynometra cauli flora.

tjdrnba, tjempa, kenobo, kiv.e, sukder, au-mdli, sdblaki,
tobeldke.

X. Cynometra cauliflora. — This is a small tree, growing from
8 to 12 feet high. The flowers and fruits are borne on tuber-

102

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 22

cles on the trunk and larger branches. The fruits are usually
ripe from August to November. When ripe, the one -seeded
fruits are yellowish green or dirty yellow. The parts sur-

to'LLON <4£

Figure 85. — Pandan or screw pine {Pandanus tectorius) .

rounding the seed are yellowish white, fragrant, juicy, edible
and sweet-sour or sour In taste. The tree does not occur
in the forests and is chiefly found only in cultivation. Local
names: nam-nam, ndjuu-ndmu, nandmul, ndmet, aiidjing-

103

22 QUARTERMASTER CORPS

andjing, lamuta, lamite, namute, kendis, aloma, kdpi-dnd'
jing, kuwdndjo, putji-dnggi, aripa, kanamdle, klamute.

y. Pandan or screw pine (Pandanus teetorius) . — ^This is
one of the most common plants in all of Polynesia and Ma-
laysia, chiefly occurring near the sea and often forming
dense thickets back of the beach. The trees are small, usually
about 12 feet high. It may be identified by the prop roots
on the trunk, or the long spiny leaves arranged spirally at
the ends of the branches. The terminal tender leaf -bud or
"cabbage" may be eaten raw or cooked. The scanty red
fruit pulp is also edible, as are the small seeds. These state-
ments apply to all of the numerous species of this genus in
the forests of Malaysia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Local
names: Fahola, dra, fafiina, kdfu, hdla, pulidla, dggak, laufala,
ieioga, pdndan, pdngdan, ponddngo, pondak, pudako, paogo,
ongor, haldwa, vddra, idle, honok, keke-moni, hdo-moni,
kdwae, ormon-fom, bdnga, bdku, hokungo, henak.

z. Gnetum gnemon. — This is a small tree, 15 to 20 feet
high, with glossy leaves and one-seeded red fruits. This is
a forest tree, but it is sometimes planted. The seeds may
be eaten raw, roasted, or boiled, and the young leaves make
excellent greens. There are several other species; all, how-
ever, are woody vines and are found in the Malayan forests.
Their seeds may also be eaten. Local names: Bdgo, hdgu,
bandgo, hdghu, nabo, ganemu, suwah, hlindgo, wdgu, suwa,
huka, wa-sowa, uwdli, ruki, wdli.

aa. Bignai (Antidesma hunius) . — This is a small tree com-
monly found in open places and secondary forests. The
numerous small, usually purplish-black, one-seeded fruits
are edible. There are many other species of this genus in
Malaya and a few in Polynesia, their fruits, all edible, are
smaller than in bignai. Local names: Bignai, buni, wuni,
katakuti, kutikdta, burneh, bune-tedong, huni.

ab. Ximenia americana. — This is a small, spiny tree, alwajrs
growing near the seashore. The rather scanty sour pulp
surrounding the large hard seed-bearing part may be eaten
raw, but the seeds should not be eaten. The young leaves
also may be cooked and eaten. Local names: Moli-tdi, pi-od,
somi-somi, tumi-tunii, paniungan, biddra, biddra-laut, biddro,
wdma-wdma.

104

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

22

ac. Wild tomato (.Lycopersicum esculentum) . — ^This wild
form of the common cultivated tomato is an erect, branched

Figure 86. — Gnetum gnemon.

herb, 2 to 3 feet high, with leaves smaller than the cultivated
form and small red fruit not larger than an English cherry.
It is frequently common in deserted clearings, abandoned

105

22

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

agricultural lands, and at higher altitudes even in open grass-
lands. It does not occur in the forests. The small red fruits
are eaten raw. Local names: Kamdtis, kamdtis-bundoK

ffii^a H4

PiGiTRE 87. — ^Bignai {Antidesma bunius).

kamantil, tavidte, tomdte, temdntis, tomat, rdnte, rdnte-
beddhi, kendiri, kemir, ambelai, samdte, antes, togdlai,
lambdte, matdbai, kuet, kabotil, warasmdla, samante.

106

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

22

ad. Ground cherry (Physalis (3 species) ) .—These may be
identified as erect or ascending branched herbs with small
white or yellow flowers. The round fruits are borne inside

Olit

FiGXJHE 88. — Ximenia americana.

of an inflated husk. When mature, the fleshy round fruits
are usually red. They somewhat resemble very small toma-
toes and may be eaten raw. They are found in open waste

516614" — 43 — — 8

107

22

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

places, sometimes near the seashore, but not in the forests.
Local names: Tomdtes-kaputi, tomdte-chdka, tamdnu-fairi,
poha, konini, daim-boba, daun-kdpokopo, leletop, tjetjendit,

»II.I.«N *4J

Figure 89. — ^Wild tomato {Lycopersicum esculentum) .

tjeplukan, jorjoran, ketjeplokan, dededes, kenampok, kopok-
kopokan, leletoken, pddang-rdse, Idpunonat, ddgameme,
putokan, sisiu, Idpak-ldpak.

108

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

22

Figure 90. — Ground cherry {Phy salts >(3 species) ) ,

109

23

quartermaster corps

Section XIE
EDIBLE SEEDS

Plants whose seeds may be eaten.

Paragraph
23

Figure 91. — ^Pangi {Pangium edule).

fi 23. Plants Whose Seeds May Be Eaten. — a. Pangi (Pan-
giuvi edule). — This is a tree that grows 70 or 80 feet high.

110

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 23

It is found in humid forests and also often planted. The
large fruits ((A), fig. 91) are up to 10 inches long, brown
and densely rusty-hairy outside. The scanty pulp sur-
rounding the numerous large hard seeds may be eaten when
fully ripe. Warning: The seeds (B) are very poisonous
{hydrocyanic acid!). They are used as food hy the natives
but only after careful preparation. The seeds should he
crushed and boiled for at least an hour, then put into run-
ning water for at least a day, after which they are boiled
again and eaten; seek the assistance of competent natives
if possible. The leaves also are poisonous if eaten. Local
names: Pdngi, putjong, peetjong, pdkem, kepdjang, kuke-
tong, kalowa, ngdfu.

b. Polynesian chestnut (Inocarpus fagiferus). — ^This is a
small or medium-sized tree, 8 to 10 or 20 feet high, much
more common in Polynesia than in Malaysia. It g^ows
especially near the seashore. The leaves are simple. The
pods contain a single large seed which is an excellent food,
when boiled or roasted, even better than the chestnut.
Local names: I ft, ifimea, ihi, ivi, ole-ifi, it, hi, hihi, gdgan,
gdjani, den, ono, adne, aidne, bosila, boeu, buoy, bui, benjek,
gdtet, gdtep, gde, geinu, ankdeng, akddjeng, gdma, nias,
eidne, eidno, keam, kaene, laidno, ainhual, mele, mdpe, rata,
rdtti, emmer, gajdmu, hdjam, gugura, gurdvrd, fudmoa,
mardre, madrah, radrrah, mdrau, maupe, anillo, kureak.

c. Sterculia foetida. — This is a large tree with large red
fruits. The numerous, nearly black seeds are rich in oil, the
flavor somewhat suggesting the beechnut. The seeds may be
eaten raw or roasted. Many other species of this genus
occur in the forests but in most of them the leaves are simple.
The seeds of all species are edible. Local names: Kalum-
pang, kajumpang, kolompang, halumpang, kepoli, kepah,
kapdka, kepuh, kalupa, kolednga, poh, ghalompang, kekepd-
hang, wuka, wukak, bungoro, alumpang, nita, nitas, fongol,
kailupafuru.

Ill

23

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

d. Indian almond (Terminalia catappa). — This is a large
tree, generally found along the seashore but sometimes
planted inland. Not uncommonly planted as a shade tree.

FiGURK 92. — ^Polynesian chestnut {Inocarpits fagiferus).

Some of the leaves are usually red. The fruits contain a
single fair-sized seed which is of excellent flavor and may

112

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

23

be eaten in any quantity. Many other species of Terminalia
occur in the forests, and the seeds of all are edible. Local
names: Katdpang, kaorika, kauarika, dua, autarda, adsu.

Figure 93. — Sterculia foetida.

asdsu, auwiri, ddyle, ker, gudill, sarf, tdlie, tdlie-ula, talisay,
talese, tarisei, tdsi, taliho, tavola, kd, keime, ketdpang.

113

23

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

hatdpang, atdpang, lahdpang, faodgia, ketdpas, salrise,
kamdni, lisa, wew, wewa, sarisa, saliha, kalis, kris, kauarika,
ruge, ngusu, kell, sadina.

OiUvM MS

PiGimE 94. — ^Indian almond {Terminalia catappa) .

e. Candle nut (Aleurites moluccana) . — ^This is a common
tree which may be identified by the foliage which is often
pale green in contrast to that of other trees, or by the small

114

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

23

greenish white flowers. The fruits contain a single, hard-
shelled seed rich in oil, and which may be eaten after roast-
ing. Local names: Kamiri, kemiri, kembiri, lumbang, kukui.

Figure 95. — Candle nut {Aleurites moluccana) .

lama, keminting, muntjang, derekan, pidekan mere mirie,
akrriiri, imile, umiri, lekong, kaleli, kawilu, kamie, kamili,
baiue, Idna, blue, lepdti, lepode, sapiri, ampiri, peleng, feno.

115

23

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

milu, igue, hdge, hdget, saketa, hakdta, pojuem, huta, inhatch,
lama, tia-iri, tutui, tuitui, ndpa, vdte, sikeci.

f. Cycas circinalis. — This is a palm-like plant with a rather
rough stem and very stiff leaves, sometimes found in the for-

FiGXjRE 96. — Cycas circinalis.

est, more often near the seashore. The very young leaves
((B), fig. 96) which are seasonal, may be eaten cooked as
asparagus. The trunk yields a kind of sago but its extrac-

116

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

23

tion is difficult. Warning: The large seeds are used as
food in times of scarcity but they are very poisonous unless
properly prepared. The flesh is crushed or grated and

Figure 97. — Kanari and pili (A, Canarium commune; B, fruit of C

ovatum) .

soaked in water, with frequent changes of water, it being re-
ported that this process should cover several days. The
soaked material may be made into cakes and baked. When-

117

23 QUARTERMASTER CORPS

ever possible, consult informed natives if the seed is to be
used as food. Local names: Bdyit, bitogo, pitogo, pdkisddji, '
uta-niel, fddang, roro, no-mall, brotel, frdtel, rumiyan,
roro, fallutier, kokeal.

g. Kanari and pili (Canarium commune) . — There are many
kinds of Canarium in Malaya, the genus extending eastward
to Fiji and Samoa. They occur in the forests and are mostly
of large size. The sticky resinous sap of the bark is dis-
tinctly fragrant or aromatic. The very hard inner parts
of the fruit are usually more or less triangular in cross sec-
tion, often pointed at the ends. The single, often fairly
large, oily seed is well-flavored, and may be eaten raw or
roasted. Some of the local names are : Kanari, kdnai, kandli,
kieri, nanari, ndnai, pili, pildui, if ale, ihdle, ijdle, ijdne, inyat,
mafoa, nungi, ma-dli, aa-matie, mashoes, lehi, ihai, upoi,
kodja, hihi, dedi, uwar, dokde, hijdo, jdlo, seben, ngie, niha,
njdnja, njidra, njiha, hdpo, hdfo, sddjeng, ai-wikan.

h. Lotus (Nelumbium n el umbo) and water lily
(Nymphaea) . — These plants both occur only in shallow fresh-
water lakes and in slow streams. The lotus flowers are pink
and the water lily flowers vary from white to pink or pale
blue. The large seeds of the lotus ((A) , fig. 98) are excellent
v/hen boiled or roasted, while the large roots, found in the
mud, may be cooked and eaten. Local names: Bdino, terdte,
tardte, sdna, serodja. The numerous small seeds of the water
lilies (B) may be cooked and eaten, as well as the more or
less thickened roots. Local names: Ldbas, lauas, pulau,
tundjung.

i. Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) . — ^This is a small shrub or
shrublike plant, 5 or 6 feet high, which is sometimes culti-
vated, but more often wild and frequently rather abundant.
It occurs in open places, never in the forests. The flowers are
yellow. The beans are edible but must be thoroughly cooked.
Local names: Radios, lebu, kdtjang-kdju, kdtjang-iris,
kekdtje, undis, lebui, legili, tori, sarupdpa, bintotung, kdntje,
tuUs, tunis, turis, fuwe-jdi, fuo-hote.

j. Asparagus bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) .—This is
a twining vine from somewhat tuberous roots, the flowers are
fairly large, and light violet-blue in color. The pods are 6 to

118

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

23

10 inches long, with four rather thin longitudinal wings.
This is chiefly planted, but is sometimes found in fence rows.
The tender pods, cooked as one would string beans, are an

•utM^ '41

Figure 98. — (A, Lotus {Nelumhium nelumbo) ; B, Water lily

{Nymphaea) .

excellent vegetable. The mature seeds may be roasted and
eaten. Local names: Ketjepir, tjipir, djdat, birdro, sdnsre,
kelongkang, kalamismis, kamaluson, siguidillas.

119

23

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

k. Hyacinth bean (Dolichos lablab) . — This vine bears
violet or white flowers. The young pods are often somewhat
pink or reddish. The seeds are white, yellowish with black

PiGXTRE 99. — Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) .

dots, or black with white dots. It is often cultivated, and
frequently found wild in thickets. The young pods, an
excellent vegetable, may be cooked and eaten as one would

120

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

23

string beans, and even the flowers and young leaves may be
cooked and eaten, as well as the ripe seeds. Local names:

Figure 100. — ^Asparagus bean {Psophocarpus tetragonolohus) .

Kara, kdra-kdra, kdtjang-bddo, kdtjang-peda, kekdra, raoj-
hedog, roaj-peda, koomas, komak, rakdra, hdtau, bulai,
sibdchi, arbila, ndoto, loto, papdpa, chuchumeco, roto.

121

23

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

I. Lima bean iPhaseolus lunatus) . — ^This vine has small
flowers, greenish, sometimes white or violet within. It is
cultivated and naturalized, the wild form occurring in

hum *tf

FiGTTRE 101. — Hyacinth bean {DoUchos lablab) .

thickets. The very young tender pods may be cooked and
eaten as one would prepare string beans. Warning: The
mature seeds are often very poisonous ihydrocyanic acid!),

122

r

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

23

a7id one must he very careful when dealing with the wild
forms, especially those with black seeds. The seeds vary in
size and in color, ranging from white to brown or mottled or

Figure 102. — ^Lima bean {Phaseoltis lunatiis) .

^ven jet black. The mature seeds of these wild forms may-
be eaten only after greatly prolonged cooking with many
changes of water. Local names: Patdni, Tcekdra, kdra,

I

516614°-^3-

123

23

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

krdtok, kardtok, bedar, keddar, kropook, roaj, roaj-cdpri,
roaj-hedjo, roak-gdling, buringi, butingi.

m. Peanut iArachis hypogaea) .—The common peanut is

PiGtTRE 103. — Peanut (Arachis hypogaea).

often planted, especially in sandy soils. The fruits, borne
under the surface of the ground, are very nutritious and the
seeds may be eaten raw or cooked. Local names: Mani,

124

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 23-24

kdtjang-broel, kdtjang-tdno, kdtjang-tdmo, kdtjang-tjina,
kdtjang-djdna, kdtjang-manila, kdtjang-goreng, kakahuati,
hdnsang, alitak, aritak, kdsang, kdsa-gore, retak-tdnah,
retak-guring, itak-bumi, botji, bautji, boutji, njiha-tjina,
wardge, wardpe, wehrdpe, hatilal-unsil, hoi, huwea, hatila-
laitdin, uwdrsin, fongdri-tjina, laurur-makaharire, boee,
foee-kdse, fore-rdi, tjangore, sanggoren, tjanggoreng.

Section XIII

POISONOUS PLANTS

Paragraph
Plants to avoid 24

■ 24. Plants To Avoid. — a. Physic nut (Jatropha curcas) . —
This is a very common shrub found in hedges and fence
rows. Warning: The rather large seeds are poisonous and
violently purgative, not to be eaten under any circumstances.
Local names: Djdrak-kosta, lau-pdta, tuba-tuba, binddlo,
bintdlo, uto-papaldgi, baldtjai, ddmar-ende, djirak, kaleke,
beaw, blue, peleng-kaliki, pdkie-kdse, mouen-mdv, malote,
mdkamdle, ai-kamdne, jdihua-kamdlo, baldtjai, boldtjai,
kadoto.

b. Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis). — ^This is a com-
mon, coarse, erect shrub or shrublike plant with large lobed
leaves. It is found in thickets and open places. Warning:
The seeds are poisonous and a violent purgative, not to be
eaten under any circumstances. Local names: Agaliya, djd-
rak, tdngan-tdngan, lulang, dulang, lajdndru, rdngam, kaliki,
tatdnga, lolo, ketovmng, kolonjan, aldle, kildle, tilalongi, lulu,
luluk, baldtjai, tuitui-pakardngi.

c. Tree nettle (Laportea). — These shrubs, or small trees,
grow in secondary forests and thickets, some species in the
high forest. There are many species. The leaf-edges, nerves,
leaf -stalks, flower- and fruit-bearing parts are supplied with
stiff, very sharp, stinging hairs, often not conspicuous. These
stinging hairs ((A), fig. 106) seated on thin bulbs, are filled
with intensely irritating sap. On light contact with the skin
one immediately has the sensation of having touched a very

125

24

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

hot iron, due, apparently, to the formic acid in the hair-sap.
While intensely painful, the sting is normally not dangerous.
Local names: Sdgai, sdgi, langdton, Ungdtoii, anuling, lipu.

.**VM.<4t

Figure 104. — ^Physic nut {Jatropha curcas)

lipai, lupa, daun-gdtee, sdla, sosoro-bdtja, kemdduh, kemd-
duh-keho, soro-hilaldgo, sosoro-bohudo, Idtejig, keldting,
pulus, saldto, lelese, elat, karktdo, kdhtat, kdhtl, lilies.

126

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

24

d. Tree nettle (Laportea) .—This plant is one of the forms
with larger, broader leaves from the southwestern Pacific
area. The stinging properties and local names are the same

I *

Figure 105. — Castor oil plant {Ricinus communis).

as for the narrower-leafed form (c above) . The numerous
small flowers are greenish or greenish white in all these tree
nettles. Figure 107 (A) shows a stinging hair enlarged. The
curious thing about these tree nettles is that if one grasps

127

24

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

the leaves very firmly the result is usually little or no stinging,
the stinging hairs being crushed. A light touch, however,
usually results in an immediate burning sensation. Some
species are much more irritating than others.

FiGtTRE 106. — Tree nettle (Laportea) .

e. Cowhage {Mucuna pruriens; M. biplicata; M. cyano-
sperma) . — These vines occur in thickets and secondary for-
ests, usually not in the high forest. The flowers are greenish-

128

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

24

white to very dark purple or even red. A number of different
species occur in Malaya, some without stinging hairs. Parts
of the flowers and the pods are covered with many stiff, easily

tfiuf* *^9

FIGURE 107. — Tree nettle (Laportea) .

detached, stinging hairs ((C), fig. 108 much enlarged).
While distinctly irritating, they are not poisonous, being
mechanical irritants. One should avoid getting these stinging

129

24

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

hairs into the eyes, as then they cause intense inflammation
and may be really dangerous. Local names: Gonseng,
kekdra-gdtel, kerdwe, kdrung, raraweje, kowas, ipe, likai,
nlpai, lupoi, alilipai, danipai, duglo, bukitkit.

Figure 108. — Cowhage (A, Mucuna pruriens; B, M. biplicata; C,

M. cyanosperma) .

f. Semecarpus. — These shrubs, or small trees, sometimes
grow to a height of 30 feet and chiefly occur in thickets and in

130

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

24

the secondary forests, many different kinds being known.
Some of the species are reputed to cause had skin eruptions on
contact, or from the sap if the trees are cut down. The fleshy

Figure 109. — Semecarpus.

swollen basal parts of the fruits are usually dark purple and
can be eaten with safety. The plant belongs in the same
family with poison ivy and poison oak. Treatment, if one is

131

24-25 QUARTERMASTER CORPS

poisoned, is the same as that indicated for poison ivy infec-
tions. These plants are not very dangerous. Local names:
Rdngas, ringasputeh, kdju-sdju, lewer, lenat, renat lauldsi,
ingas, tilik, dgas, andgas, handgas, libas, ligas, Idngas.pdrau,
pdnau, tohnget, tongot, tschongot.

Section XTV

PLANTS USED TO STUPEFY FISH

Paragraph

Plants in general 25

Specific plants 26

■ 25. Plants in General. — a. In many parts of the region
covered by this manual portions of several different kinds
of plants are used to stupefy fish, both those found in tide
pools and in small streams. The methods vary, but the
usual one is to pound or crush the plant parts used, mix
with water, and throw a sufficiently large quantity of the
material into pools which the fish inhabit. In streams the
material is always placed at the upper end of a quiet pool,
thus permitting the current to spread it. Usually large
quantities of this mixture must be used. The fish are suf-
focated, and usually come to the surface belly up; they can
then be taken easily. The materials used for this purpose in
no manner affect the flesh, and fish thus secured can be
eaten with entire safety. Whenever possible seek the advice
of friendly natives as to what plants and what plant parts
may he used for this purpose and how they are used.

b. The most commonly used and most commonly available
plants are different types of Derris (par. 26&), all woody
vines, widely known as tuba, and also as tugli, tubli, kaju
tuba, toba, mombul, manengop, yup, duup, duva and nathon.
The fish poison is most abundant in the roots, but in pre-
paring the material both the roots and other parts of the
plants are pounded and thrown into the water. Derris is
the most efficient of the various plants used. The large
one-seeded fruits of Barringtonia asiatica (par. 26d) are
also used. This is a large tree with large, very smooth
leaves, pink flowers, and one-seeded fruits that are square in
cross-section. Its natural habitat is only along tho seashore

132

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 25-26

of Malaysia and parts of Polynesia, it is known as putat
laut, bitung, butun, hutun, keben, modgin, puutin, kun, futu,
hutu, puting, utu, vutu, vup. The large solitary seed is
mashed and thrown into the pools where the fish occur.
Another often used plant that is frequently fairly common,
is the shrub or small tree Croton tiglium (par. 26a). The
small seeds are crushed and used as in Barringtonia. The
species is rather commonly found about settlements, near
houses, and is naturalized in waste places; it does not occur
in the forests. Some of the local names are tuba- tuba,
chemekian, cherdken, simaldkian, panchdhar, adalddal,
simuli, kowe, kamaisa, kamdgsa, tuba, makaisa. Tephrosia
purpurea (par. 26c) is a small shrub or somewhat woody herb
with small purple flowers and a small flat pod. It is proba-
bly the most used fish poison in Polynesia and Micronesia,
where it is widely distributed. The whole plant is pounded
or crushed and thrown into the water. Local names: Avdsa,
hora, hola, auhola, kohuhu. The word tuba which is widely
used in Malaya and applied to a number of totally different
plants usually indicates a plant that may be used for stupe-
fying fish. Incidentally, a charge of dynamite or even a
hand grenade thrown in a pool is a very effective way of
stunning fish.

1 26. Specific Plants. — a, Croton oil plant (Croton ti-
glium) . — ^This shrub, or small tree, is cultivated and spon- /
taneous. The seeds are used chiefly for poisoning fish. \
Warning: A very violent purgative. Not to be eaten under
any circumstances. Local names: Kamaisa, kamdgsa, ke-
mdde, makaisa, tuba, tjerdkin, simildkian, kemaldkijan,
ddal-ddal, pentjdhar, rungkou, dungkow, lungkow, Idnta,
kelmure, tupo, humulite, semuli, kowe.

b. Derris elliptica. — This is a most efficient fish poison,
its use for suffocating fish in slow streams, pools, and even
tide pools is widely known. There are many different species
of the genus, some more potent than others. The parts used
are chiefly the crushed roots, but sometimes the crushed

133

26

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

branches and leaves are also used. These are all woody vines,
with flowers resembling those of the bean, and narrowly

OlLLBli '41.

Figure 110. — Croton oil plant (Croton tigliuTu) .

winged pods, occurring chiefly in thickets and secondary
forests. See paragraph 25 for methods of use and local
names.

134

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

26

c. Tephrosia purpurea. — ^This is a small, branched shrub
or shrubby herb, growing in open places. The small flowers

siijint 'a

Figure 111. — Derns eUiptica.

are purple. It is widely used as a fish poison, especially in
Polynesia. The whole plant is crushed and thrown into the
pools where fish occur. See paragraph 25 for local names.

135

26

QUARTERMASTER CORPS

d. Barringtonia asiatica. — These large trees grow on the
seashore. They bear large smooth leaves, large pink flowers
with many stamens, and large fruits which are square in cross

filUM MJ

Figure 112. — Tephrosia purpurea.

section and which contain a single large seed. The crushed
seeds are used for killing fish in pools. See paragraph 25
for local names and methods of use.

136

EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS

56

Figure 113. — Barringtonia asiatica.

137

INDEX

Paragraph Page

Acalypha indica 20 64

Acalypha toilkesiana 20 65

Achras zapota 22 93

Acrostichum aureum 12 9

Agave cantala 20 72

Aleurites molticcana 23 114

Alocasia 13 11

Alocasia macrorrhiza 14 13

Alternanthera sessilis 20 49

Amaranthus 20 45

Amorphophallus campanulatus 14 16

Anacardiaceae 4 2

Anacardium occidentale 22 86

Annona muricata 22 89

Annona reticulata 22 90

Annona squamosa 22 88

Antidesma bunius 22 104

Araceae 13 10

Arachis hypogaea 23 124

Arenga 15.16 17,22

Arrowroot 19 39

Arrowroot, Polynesian 19 39

Artocarpus altilis . 22 79

Artocarpus chatnpeden 22 80

Artocarpus heterophylla 22 80

Artocarpus rotunda, 22 80

Asparagus bean 23 118

Athyrium esculentum 12 9

Atolls 9 4

Averrhoa 'bilimhi '■ 22 100

Averrhoa carambola 22 100

Balsam vine 20 45

Bamboo IT 26

Bamboo shoots 18 30

Banana 22 76

Barley IT 26

Barringtonia asiatica 26 136

Basella rubra 20 50

Beans:

Asparagus 23 118

Hyacinth 23 120

Lima 23 122

Beet 2 1

Bignai 22 104

Bilimbi 22 99

Bitter cassava 19 31

Boerhaavia dijjusa 20 55

Borneo 2 2

Breadfruit 6,22 3,79

Buck yam 19 37

Bulb yam 19 33

516614°— 43 10 139

INDEX

Paragraph Page

Buri palm 16 22

Burma 2 1

Cabbage 2 1

Cajanus cajan ._ 23 118

Calamus 16 22

Calla lily 13 10

Canarium commune 23 118

Candle nut 23 114

Cantala 20 72

Caramhola 22 99

Carica papaya 22 77

Carrot 2 1

Caryota 15,16 17.22

Cashew 22 86

Cassava :

Bitter 19 31

Sweet 19 31

Castor oil plant 24 125

Celosia argentea 20 45

Century plant 20 72

Ceratopteris thalictroides 12 8

Ceylon spinach 20 50

Champedak 22 80

Chestnut :

Poljmesian 23 . Ill

Water 19 40

Cock's comb 20 45

Coconut palm 10,16 5,23

Cocos nucifera 16 23

Coix lachryrrta-jobi 18 27

Colocasia esculenta 14 11

Commelinaceae 20 45

Coral tree 20 68

Corn 17 26

Corypha 16 22

Cowhage 4,24 3,128

Croton oil plant 26 133

Croton tiglium " 26 133

Cucumber 2 1

Custard apple 22 90

Cyuthea 12 7

Cycas circinalis 23 116

Cynometra cauUflora 22 102

Cyrtosperma 13 11

Cyrtosperma chamissonis 14 15

Derris elliptica 26 133

Dioscorea alata 19 33

Dioscorea bulbifera 19 33

Dioscorea esculenta 19 35

Dioscorea hispida 19 38

Dioscorea pentaphylla 19 37

Dolichos lablah 23 120

Edible ferns 11 5

Edible fruits 21 75

140

INDEX

Edible grasses

Edible gxeens

Edible herbs

Edible palms

Edible seeds

Edible tubers

Egg plant

Eichhornia crassipes

Eleocharis dulcis

Elephant ear

Emilia sonchifolia --

Erechtites

Erythrina variegata _

Ferns :

Fiddle head

Food value

Kinds

Pako

Paku

Use as food by natives..
Ferns, edible:

Acrostichum aureum

Paco

Stenochlaena paliLstris.

Swamp

Tree

Fiji

Fishtail palm

Forrestia marginata

Fruits, edible:

Artocarpus rotunda

Banana

Bignai

Bilimbi

Breadfruit

Carambola

Cashew

Chaihpedak

Custard apple

Cynometra cauliflora--.

Gnetum gnemon

Ground cherry

Guava

Jak fruit

Jambolan

Lansone

Malay apple

Mango

Pandan

Polynesian plum

Pulusan

Rambutan

Rose apple

Santol

Sapodilla

Screw pine

Paragraph

Page

17

26

20

43

13

10

15

17

23

110

19

80

2

1

20

60

19

40

14

13

20

61

20

61

20

68

11

5

11

5

11

5

11

6

11

6

11

5

12

10

12

9

12

10

12

8

12

7

9

5

16

22

20

45

22 .

80

22

76

22

104

22

99

22

79

22

99

22

86

22

80

22

80

22

102

22

104

22

107

22

84

22

81

22

94

22

83

22

95

22

91

22

105

22

98

22

81

22

81

22

95

22

96

22

93

22

103

141

INDEX

Fruits. edible-Continued. Paragraph; Page

Sour sop 22 89

Spondias pimmta 22 99

Sweet Bop 22 88

Syzgium aqueum 22 95

Tamarind 22 101

Wild tomato 22 105

Ximenia americana 22 104

Fruits :

Guide to eating 10 5

Maturity of 10 5

Gnetum gnemon 22 104

Goa yam 19 35

Grasses, edible 17 26

Bamboo shoots 18 30

Job's tears 18 27

Setaria palmifolia 18 28

Greater yam 19 33

Greens :

Acalypha indica 20 64

Acalypha wilkesiana 20 65

Alternanthera sessilis 20 49

Amaranthus 20 45

Balsam vine 20 45

Boerhaavia diffusa 20 55

Cantala 20 72

Celosia argentea 20 45

Ceylon spinach 20 50

Commelinaceae 20 45

Coral tree 20 68

Cycas drcinalis 23 116

Emilia sonchifoUa 20 61

Erechtites 20 61

Forrestia marginata 20 45

Gnetum gnemon 22 104

Horseradish tree 20 67

Jpomea aquatica 20 57

Luffa acutangula 20 43

Luffa cylindrica 20 43

Monochoria hastata 20 59

Monochoria vaginalis 20 59

Morinda citrifolia 20 71

Ottelia alismoides 20 58

Papaya 22 77

Pemphis acidula 20 71

Pilea glaberrima 20 52

PlVyChea indica 20 63

Purslane 20 53

Seaside purslane 20 53

Sesbania grandiflora 20 70

Sesuvium portulacastrum 20 53

Solanum nigrum 20 56

Spilanthes acmella 20 62

Tamarind 22 101

Thespesia populnea 20 'Zl

Tournefortia argentea 20 71

Water hyacinth 20 60

Ximenia americana 22 104

142

Paragraph Page

Ground cherry 22 107

Guava 22 84

Herbs, edible 13 10

AmorphophalliLS campanulatus 14 16

Cyrtospertna chamissonis 14 15

Elephant ear 14 13

Schismatoglottis calyptrata 14 12

Taro 14 11

Horseradish tree 20 67

Hyacinth, bean 23 120

Hyacinth, water 20 40

Identification of edible fruits:

Brown fruit. 22 101

Grayish to brownish fruit 22 93

Green fruit 22 88

Green or brownish-green fruit 22 79

Green or yellowish-green fruit 22 80,84

Greenish-white fruit 22 95

Pink fruit 22 95

Pink to reddish fruit 22 95

Purple fruit 22 95

Purplish-black fruit 22 104

Red flowers 22 95, 105

Red fruit 22 81,104

White flowers 22 84,95

White or yellow flowers 22 107

Yellow fruit 22 77,92

Yellowish fruit 22 83,96

Yellowish or yellowish-green fruit 22 98

Yellowish-green fruit 22 103

Identification of edible grasses:

White flowers 17 26

White fruit 18 27

Identification of edible greens :
Plants:

Blackberries 20 56

Blue flowers 20 45,59

Blue flowered water plant 20 60

Greenish or greenish-white flowers 20 52

Pink flowers 20 55

Red, purple, or yellow flowers. 20 48

Reddish to purplish stem 20 55

Violet, or purple flowers , 20 45

White flowered water plant 20 58

White flowers 20 50, 56, 58

White to pink flowers 20 48

Shrubs :

Colored leaves 20 65

Grayish-white leaves 20 71

Green or reddish twigs 20 65

Greenish-white fruit 20 71

Violet flowers 20 63

White flowers 20 71

143

INDEX

Identification of edible greens — Continued. Paragraph, Page

Trees i

Pods 20 67,70

Red flowers 20 68

White flowers 20 67,71

White or wine-red flowers 20 70

Yellow flowers 20 71

Vines :

Green, red, or purplish leaves 20 51

Pink flowers 20 51,57

Pods 20 67,70

Red, purplish, yellowish-green stems 20 51

Yellow flowers' 20 43,45

Weeds i

Pink flowers 20 62

Pink or reddish flowers 20 61

Yellow flowers 20 62

Yellowish flowers 20 62

Identification of plants With edible seeds:

Greenish-white or violet flowered vine 23 122

Pale green-leafed tree 23 114

Pink lotus flowers 23 118

Red fruit tree 23 HI

Red-leafed tree 23 112

Violet or white flowered vine 23 120

Violet-blue flowered vine 23 118

White, pink, blue, water lily flowers 23 118

Yellow flowered shrub 23 118

Identification of poisonous plants:

Greenish-white flowers 24 127

Greenish-white, purple, or red flowers 24 128

Purple base 24 131

Stinging hairs 24 125,

127, 129
Identification of tubers:

Blue flowers 19 39

Grooved stems 19 39

Hard bulbs 19 34

Pink flowers 19 30

Three-parted leaf 19 38

Vine with pods 19 39

White flowers 19 39

Indian almond 23 112

Indian corn 2 1

Indian turnip 13 10

Indo-China 2 1

Inocarpus Jagiferus 23 111

Insects 5 3

Jpomoea aquatica 20 57

Jpomoea batatas 19 30

Jack-in-the-pulpit 13 10

Jak fruit 22 80

Jambolan 22 94

Jatropha curcas 24 125

Java 4. 2

Job's tear 18 27

144

■ INDEX

Paragraph Page

Kanari 23 118

Lansium domesticum 22 83

Lansone 22 83

Lapbrtea 24 125,127

Leech, land 5 3

Lima bean 23 122

Lime 2 1

Lotus 23 118

Luffa acutangula 20 43

Lujjn cylindrica 20 43

LycopersicuTTU esculentum 22 105

Maize 2,17 126

Mangifera indica 22 91

Mango 4,22 3,91

ManiJiot esculenta 19 31

Manioc 19 31

Malay apple 22 95

Malay Archipelago 2 1

Malaysia 22 80

Maranta arundinacea 19 39

Maturity of fruit 10 3

Melaniesia 2 1

MetroxT/lon 16 19

Micronesia 2,6 1,4

Millet ___ 17 26

Moluccas 22 76

Momordica charantia 20 45

Monochoria hastata 20 59

Monochoria vaginalis 20 59

Morinda citrifolia 20 71

Moringa oleifera 2([) 67

Mosquito 5 3

Mucuna bipUcata 24 128

Mvxmna cyanosperma 24 128

Mucuna pruriens 24 128

Musa sapientum 22 77

Musa troglodytarum 22 77

Names, local 8 4

Native use of plants 1,6,7 1,3,4

Nelumtnum nelumbo 23 118

Nephelium lappaceum 22 81

Nephelium mutabile 22 81

New Guinea 22 76

Nipa fruticans 16 24

Nipa palm 16 24

Nymphaea 23 118

Oats 17 26

Oranges 2 1

Ottelia alismoides 20 58

Pachyrhizu^ erosus 19 59

Paco__ 12 9

145

INDEX

Paragraph, Page

Palms, edible 15 17

Buri 16 22

Coconut 16 23

Fishtail 16 22

Nipa 16 24

Rattan 16 22

Sago 16 19

Salacca edulis 16 22

Sugar 16 22

Pandan 22 104

Pandanus tectorius 22 104

Pangi 23 110

Pangium edule 23 110

Papaya 22 77

Parts of plants eaten 1 1

Papaw 1 77

Pea, pigeon 23 118

Peanut 23 124

Pemphis acidula 20 71

Pepper, sweet 2 1

Pests, jungle 5 3

Phaseolus lunatus 23 122

Philippines 2 1

Physalis 22 107

Physic nut 24 125

Pigeon pea 23 118

Pili_____ 23 118

Pineapple ■ 2 1

Pilea glaberrima 20 52

Plantain 21, 22 76

Plants used to stupefy fish 25, 26 132, 133

Barringtonia asiatica 26 136

Croton oil plant 26 133

Derris elUptica 26 133

Tephrosia purpurea 26 135

Pluchea indica 20 63

Poisonous plants 4,5,24 2,3,125

Castor oil plant 24 147

Physic nut 24 125

Seme carpus 24 130

Poisonous plants, cooking of 7 4

Poisonous plants, treatment for 4 2

Polynesia ■ — 2,22 1,76

Polynesian arrowroot 19 39

Polynesian chestnut 23 111

Polynesian plum 22 98

Pomelo 2 1

Portulaca oleracea 20 53

Potato, substitute 14 11

Psidium guajava 22 84

Psophocarpus tetragonolohus 23 118

Pulusan 22 81

Purpose of manual 1 1

Purslane 20 53

Purslane, seaside 20 63

146

INDEX

Paragraph, Page

Rambutan 22 81

Rattan palm 16 22

Region covered 2 1

Rengas 4 2

Rice 2,17 1,26

Ricinus communis 24 147

Rose apple 22 95

Sago palm 16 19

Salacca edulis 16 92

Sandoricum koetjape 22 96

Santol 22 96

Sap, milky 4 2

Sapodilla 22 93

Schimnatoglottis calyptrata 14 12

Screw pine 22 104

Seeds, edible:

Artocarpus rotunda 22 80

Asparagus bean 23 118

Breadfruit 22 79

Candle nut 23 114

Cashew 22 86

Champedak 22 80

Cycas circinalis 23 116

Gnetum gnemon 22 104

Hyacinth bean 23 120

Indian almond 23 112

Jak fruit 22 80

Kanari 23 118

Lima bean 23 122

Lotus 23 118

Pandan 22 104

Pangi 23 110

Peanut 23 124

Pigeon pea 23 118

Pili 23 118

Polynesian chestnut 23 111

StercuUa foetida 23 111

Water lily 23 118

Semecarpus 24 130

Sesbania grandiflora 20 70

Sesuvium, portulacastrum 20 53

Setaria palmifolia 18 28

Shoots 1 1

Snakes 3,5 2,3

Solanum nigrum i 20 56

Sorghum 2,17 1,26

Sour sop 22 89

Spiders 5 3

Spilanthes acmella 20 62

Spondias dulcis 22 98

Spondias pinnata 22 .99

Squash 2 1

Starch :

Obtaining 15 17

Utilizing 15 17

147

INDEX

Paragraph; Page

Stenochlaena palustris 12 9

Sterculia foetida 23 111

Stinging plants 4,13 2,10

Stupefying fish, method of 25 132

Sugar palm 16 22

Sugarcane -'_-_ 17 26

Sumatra 2 1

Swamp fern 12 8

Sweet cassava 19 31

Sweet potato 19 30

Sweet sop 22 88

Syzygium aqueum • 22 95

Sysygium cumini 22 94

Syzygium janibos 22 95

Syzygium malaccense 22 95

Tacca leontopetaloides 19 39

Tamarind 22 101

TaTnarindu^ indica 22 101

Tapioca 19 31

Taro 13,14 11

Tephrosia purpurea 26 135

Terminalia catappa 23 112

Thailand 2 1

Thespesiai populnea 20 71

Tournefortia argentea 20 71

Tree nettle 24 125.127

Trees:

Coral_j - 20 68

Horseradish __♦_ 20 67

Nettles 4.24 3,125

Pemphis acidula 20 71

Sesbania grandiflora 20 70

Thespesia populnea 20 71

Tubers 1,13,14 1,77

Edible 19 30

Arrowroot 19 39

Buck yam 19 37

Bulb yam 19 33

Cassava 19 31

Goa yam 19 35

Polynesian arrowroot 19 39

Sweet potato 19 30

Water chestnut 19 40

Wild yam 19 38

Yam bean 19 39

Vines :

Balsam 20 45

Ceylon spinach 20 50

Gnetum gnemon 22 104

Water chestnut 19 40

Water from coconut palm 16 23

Water from palms 15 17

Water from rattan palm 16 22

Water hyacinth 20 40

148

INDEX

Paragraph; Page

Water lily 23 lis

Wheat 17 26

Wild tomato 22 105

Wild yam 19 38

Ximenia americana 22 104

Yam bean 19 39

Yam, buck 19 37

Yam, goa 19 37

o

149